Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Moment’s Rest

Whoosh!

With terrifying speed, Old Ye whisked Lu Zhe back to Qingxi Town, a place he had not seen in years.

“Oh my goodness!” Lu Zhe exclaimed, steadying himself after landing.

Old Ye retracted the massive wings at his back into his body and said coolly, “We’ll rest here for a few days.”

With that, he strode away, not sparing Lu Zhe another glance.

“Master, where are you going?” Lu Zhe called after him.

Old Ye gave no reply, his figure soon receding into the distance.

Lu Zhe watched his master’s departing silhouette with resignation. Suddenly, something squirmed beneath his shirt at his chest. In a moment, the little monkey Xiao Bai wriggled out, eager and restless. During the flight, Lu Zhe had tucked him inside his shirt to keep him safe from falling.

Now freed, Xiao Bai chattered and looked around, hopping about with excitement.

Lu Zhe grinned at him, then set off himself.

Quickly, Lu Zhe left the noisy market behind and made his way toward the mountain nearby. Reaching the slopes, he soon spotted a dilapidated ancient temple not far away. A shiver ran through him, and he walked toward the old shrine where he’d long made his home.

Inside, nothing had changed; everything was just as he’d left it, save for a thicker layer of dust. His eyes fell upon the base of the Buddha statue at the center of the temple, and suddenly he remembered Xiao Hui.

“I wonder how he’s doing now,” Lu Zhe murmured quietly.

Xiao Bai, the little monkey, leaped to his side, chattering ceaselessly. Lu Zhe bent down to pick him up, cast one last glance at the broken temple, and turned to leave.

At the foot of the mountain, in Uncle Liu’s grand courtyard, the usually quiet main hall was suddenly lively. Uncle Liu sat at the head of the hall, chatting cheerfully with Old Ye, who was seated to his left. Beside them sat Xue Ling’er and Xue Fei’er.

“Hahaha, Old Ye, you really are something—leaving him in the deep mountains for three whole months!” Uncle Liu roared with laughter.

Old Ye set his bamboo cane down to his right, the green cloth covering his face fluttering slightly. He replied coolly, “How are the preparations I asked for?”

“All ready,” Uncle Liu replied with a smile. “When do you plan to set out?”

“In the next few days,” Old Ye answered calmly.

Xue Ling’er, who had been silently listening, finally asked softly, “How is Lu Zhe? Is he well?”

“He’s doing just fine,” Old Ye replied, his tone indifferent.

Xue Fei’er suddenly chimed in, “Where is he? Why isn’t he here?”

Old Ye glanced at her, intentionally or not, but Xue Fei’er always seemed unable to meet his gaze and looked away.

“He should be here soon,” Old Ye said.

No sooner had the words left his lips than Lu Zhe’s voice sounded from outside the door.

“Haha, Uncle Liu! It’s been months—how have you been?”

Strangely, there was an odd screech mixed in with his words, as if some animal were calling alongside him.

Suddenly, a blur of white shot through the doorway and in a flash scampered straight to Xue Fei’er.

Both Xue Fei’er and Xue Ling’er jumped in surprise, only to see the white blur was a charming little monkey with sleek, shiny fur. Xue Fei’er, unconcerned with its dirty paws, scooped the little monkey into her lap, giggling as she played with him.

Moments later, Lu Zhe himself strolled into the hall. He glanced at Xue Ling’er and gave a faint smile, which brought a blush to her cheeks, though it soon faded from her beautiful, fair face.

Lu Zhe turned to Uncle Liu with a mild smile. “Uncle Liu, how have you been?”

Uncle Liu smiled in return. “Boy, I never thought you’d make it out of those wild mountains unscathed—and even advance to a Four-Star Spirit Practitioner! Impressive indeed.”

Lu Zhe’s gaze flickered to Old Ye. At that moment, Old Ye’s eyes were half-closed, but as if sensing Lu Zhe’s look, he opened them, nodded, and said, “Zhe’er, you and Xue Ling’er and Xue Fei’er go outside for a while. I have something to discuss with your uncle.”

Uncle Liu also turned to the sisters. “Go on.”

Lu Zhe nodded, glanced at Xiao Bai, who was still wrestling playfully with Xue Fei’er, and gave a whistle. Xiao Bai struggled free from Xue Fei’er’s arms and scampered up to perch on Lu Zhe’s shoulder, his tail swishing. Lu Zhe gave the little monkey a fond smile, then strode out.

Xue Fei’er reluctantly watched Xiao Bai run to Lu Zhe, then got up and followed her sister out of the hall.

No sooner had they stepped outside than they saw Lu Zhe sitting on the stone steps nearby, laughing and playing with Xiao Bai.

Xue Fei’er hurried over and crouched beside him. “Let me borrow your monkey for a bit!”

Lu Zhe glanced at Xiao Bai and pointed at Xue Fei’er. With a chatter, Xiao Bai leapt from Lu Zhe’s embrace and into Xue Fei’er’s arms.

Grinning with delight, Xue Fei’er cuddled Xiao Bai. After a moment, she asked, “He’s so adorable! What’s his name?”

“His name is Xiao Bai,” Lu Zhe replied.

“Xiao Bai?” Xue Fei’er repeated, gazing down at the monkey. Then she lifted her eyes to Lu Zhe, hope shining in them. “Can you give him to me?”

“No,” Lu Zhe replied firmly, without hesitation.

“Uh—” Xue Fei’er was so taken aback by his blunt refusal that she was left speechless.

“Well…then, can I just play with him for a while?” she asked after a moment.

“Of course,” Lu Zhe said, his smile returning as he looked at Xiao Bai.

With endless gratitude, Xue Fei’er took Xiao Bai and wandered off toward the back of the courtyard.

“I’m sorry—Fei’er is a little too willful.” Soon after Xue Fei’er left, Xue Ling’er’s voice sounded from behind Lu Zhe.

He turned, saw Xue Ling’er, smiled faintly, then stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes. “Would you like to take a walk with me?”

Xue Ling’er was briefly surprised, then smiled softly. “I’d like that.”

Lu Zhe smiled, then led the way toward the hills behind Uncle Liu’s house, with Xue Ling’er following close behind.

On the mountain, Lu Zhe looked around. It was autumn now; sunlight bathed the slopes, and the trees danced gracefully in the wind. The autumn breeze brought a cool edge to the air. Sometimes the trees swayed, sometimes they stood still, and from time to time a few forlorn leaves drifted down. Yet none of this diminished the beauty of the green woods in late autumn, where bees buzzed as they gathered nectar. The unique loveliness of autumn spread before Lu Zhe, and he drew a deep breath of the crisp mountain air.

“I heard from your master—you’re about to embark on a new journey,” Xue Ling’er’s gentle voice chimed behind him, clear as wind chimes.

Lu Zhe nodded. “That’s right. I don’t have much time left. There’s less than two years and eight months until the appointed day. I can’t rest any longer.”

“Then…” Xue Ling’er started to say more, but a cool gust of autumn wind stirred her robes, silencing her.

Lu Zhe smiled and turned to her. “Don’t worry. In three years, I’ll defeat Shangguan Yijing.”

Xue Ling’er gazed at the young man before her. He now stood half a head taller than she; though already fifteen, his face still bore traces of boyish innocence. His tall frame and handsome features wore a gentle smile that brought a shy blush to her cheeks.

She smiled softly, serene as a ripened autumn fruit, and watched him in silence. The autumn breeze played with her soft hair, sending a few strands loose to brush her fair, beautiful cheeks, making her appear like a fairy descended from the heavens—radiant and enchanting.

Caught by her gaze, Lu Zhe blushed and quickly turned away.

Xue Ling’er laughed at his awkwardness, a gentle tinkling sound. Then, quietly, she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him from behind, and rested her cheek against his back.

Lu Zhe felt something at his waist. Looking down, he saw a pair of slender, fair hands encircling him. He flushed, about to remove them, but then Xue Ling’er’s gentle, caring voice spoke: “You must come back safely.”

Lu Zhe’s hands stilled. Instead of moving hers away, he let his arms drop, saying nothing, simply gazing out at the autumn mountain scenery.

The wind swept gently over the two of them, standing together on the edge of the mountain cliff.