Chapter 82: Meteor Shower (1)

Update time: July 9, 2013

The vast heavens stretched endlessly, the night sky hung heavy with stars, and a brilliant full moon was suspended high above, bathing the starlit vault in silvery light. The mountain range, immense and majestic, was shrouded in moonlight, its contours rendered in shimmering silver. The interplay of moon and stars lent the forest beneath a mysterious allure, deepening its enigmatic beauty.

“Nine hundred and ninety-eight.”

“Nine hundred and ninety-nine.”

“One thousand.”

In the moonlight, Lian Yue completed her repetitive exercise, letting out a long sigh of relief. She set the branch she’d been using aside, rubbed her aching arms, and sat down on the grassy earth nearby, stubbornly refusing to go near the fire that Yu Wen Lingxi had kindled. The summer night was already stifling, and after sweating so much, Lian Yue was far more wary of the oppressive darkness around her than she was drawn to the warmth of the fire.

Yu Wen Lingxi noticed her pause and, without a word, brought over the provisions he had prepared—food wrapped in leaves and a water flask. He sat down two paces away from Lian Yue, placing the food and water between them.

Lian Yue took the flask, dampening the black cloth she held and wiping away the fragrant sweat from her face, careful to avoid the wounds she had received earlier. Then she drank deeply, savoring the cool water. Earlier that day, she might have felt uneasy using his supplies, but now all her reservations had vanished. With such a resourceful companion, there was no need to worry about hunger or thirst.

In truth, only a little more than an hour had passed since they last ate roasted pork, but during that time, Lian Yue had been practicing the moves Yu Wen Lingxi demonstrated, expending considerable energy. Now, her stomach grumbled hungrily.

By the light of the moon, Lian Yue eyed the black, root-like objects on the leaves, uncertain how to proceed. Yet, after days spent together, she had grown confident in Yu Wen Lingxi’s skills. With some hesitation, she picked up a stick and poked at the unfamiliar food, asking, “What is this? How do you eat it?”

Yu Wen Lingxi picked up a small stone from the ground and, with just the right force, tapped the object before him twice. Then, he gently peeled away the cracked black skin, revealing tender, crystalline white flesh beneath. An enticing aroma wafted forth, making Lian Yue’s mouth water.

About to imitate him with another root, Lian Yue glanced over and saw that Yu Wen Lingxi had already placed a peeled piece onto a clean leaf, offering it to her. After a moment’s hesitation, she tossed the stone aside, wiped her hands with the black cloth, and carefully took the offering with both hands. She brought it to her nose, inhaling deeply, savoring its fragrance, then gingerly pinched off a piece and placed it in her mouth. It was soft, fragrant, and sticky; before she’d even swallowed the first bite, she was eager for the next.

“What is this? Why does it taste so good?” she asked as she enjoyed the delicacy.

“Yam,” Yu Wen Lingxi replied. He hadn’t expected to find such a thing in this forest. The past days had been marked by meat and a few wild fruits, so this was a welcome change. With practiced hands, he quickly peeled another root and placed it on the leaf before Lian Yue.

“This is yam?” Lian Yue was incredulous, smacking her lips in lingering delight. It tasted somewhat like yam, but far more delicious than what she was used to. “Brother Ming, you’re amazing,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining as she gazed at Yu Wen Lingxi.

Seeing her so pleased, Yu Wen Lingxi felt a surge of happiness himself. Even the charcoal stains on his hands seemed less bothersome.

Forty-Seven, leaning against a branch, watched the scene below and swallowed several times. For people like him, food was merely sustenance, but faced with true delicacies, who would willingly eat half-cooked scraps? Unable to bear the sight, he slipped away from the tree, disappearing into the shadows.

As he leapt away, Yu Wen Lingxi glanced up briefly in his direction, then returned to his task.

Lian Yue managed to eat two and a half pieces of yam before her appetite waned. Yu Wen Lingxi, not yet hungry, took a few bites and efficiently tidied up their little meal. Lian Yue wanted to help, but found herself useless; before she could act, everything was already in order. She could only watch from the sidelines.

No matter how one tried to dispel it, the forest at night remained unnerving. The shadows cast by branches and trunks looked like grasping monsters, their fangs bared, ready to pounce. Instinctively, Lian Yue edged closer to Yu Wen Lingxi.

He paused at her movement. “Would you like to see the stars?” he asked softly.

“See the stars?” Lian Yue looked up. Through the dense foliage, she caught glimpses of the dazzling night sky and nodded eagerly.

Yu Wen Lingxi went to the fire, adding enough dry branches and leaves to keep it burning, then returned and held out his hand to her.

Lian Yue hesitated, standing uncertainly. Though they had shared food and shelter these past days, it had always been out of necessity. Now, her modesty as a young woman made her reluctant to place her hand in the palm of this not-quite-stranger.

Fidgeting with the hem of her garment, she said, “I can manage on my own.”

Yu Wen Lingxi, a little disappointed, explained, “It’s very dark; you might stumble. For safety’s sake, perhaps you should hold onto my sleeve.”

Lian Yue considered and agreed, stepping forward to gently grasp his sleeve. “Ready,” she whispered.

Together, they summoned their inner strength and leapt toward a large tree nearby.

Once atop the tree, Lian Yue suspected Yu Wen Lingxi had already scouted the place. The tree was unusually dense and taller than its neighbors. Yu Wen Lingxi had deliberately chosen a sturdy branch against the cliff, where they could sit side by side, backs to the precipice.

Settling herself, Lian Yue looked up at the heavens. Tonight was indeed perfect for star-gazing: the black velvet of the sky was studded with luminous stars and a radiant moon, clouds like black pearls reflected the celestial glow, and the gentle night breeze carried the rustle of leaves.

Lian Yue dangled her bare feet in the air, entranced by the beauty before her. She had often watched stars, whether in a courtyard or perched on a rooftop. During her three years at Phoenix Ridge, she and Yao Yao had stargazed by the Misty Sea, but never before had she sat amidst a dense forest, with mountains stretching endlessly beneath her feet.

Immersed in the moment, Lian Yue couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s beautiful!”

Yu Wen Lingxi gazed at her radiant face, his eyes filled with contentment, happiness, and a hint of confusion.

He quickly composed himself. As an assassin, he needed to remain calm at all times. No one doubted that Dark Ming was an exceptional killer, but even the best are human, and once they form attachments, they too can falter.

Yu Wen Lingxi did not reject his current feelings. Only in these moments could he feel his heart beating, his blood flowing. Being an assassin was never his choice; if given the chance, he would rather live an ordinary life—even as a notorious wastrel.

As long as the ones he loved and cared for could stay by his side—even if it was only to sit quietly and watch the stars—he felt a fulfillment unlike any he had known before.

It had been so long since he’d felt this way, so long that he couldn’t recall the last time. Yet the woman who once watched the stars with him was forever etched in his memory: her smile, her tears, her fulfillment, her hope, and her unwavering devotion.

Yu Wen Lingxi closed his eyes, thoughts flooded with her image and laughter. How long had it been since he last remembered her? A sharp pain seized his heart, and he pressed his hand tightly to his chest. Beneath the mask, a single tear slipped from the corner of his eye, wetting his youthful cheeks.

Lian Yue, lost in the scenery, noticed nothing amiss beside her. Suddenly, a dazzling star streaked across the sky, trailing a long tail.

She nudged Yu Wen Lingxi excitedly, “Look! Look! A shooting star! There’s a shooting star!”

Note: Yam, commonly known as mountain yam. In supermarkets in Hebei and other regions, it is also called hemp mountain yam. A perennial herbaceous plant, its stems are vining and often tinged with purple, roots are cylindrical, leaves opposite, ovate or elliptical, flowers milky white, plants are dioecious. The tuber contains starch and protein and is edible.