Lou Xiyue said, "Okay."
He took a few steps, and I called out to him, “Xiyue, we have been out of the valley for many days. Let’s go back to Medicine King Valley with Master after we get down the mountain. Nanyan must have suffered a lot these past few days.”
Lou Xiyue nodded, "Let's go to Yangzhou first."
I asked, puzzled, "What are you going to Yangzhou for? Are you going to see Xiaodie again?"
He said expressionlessly, "Go set up your fortune-telling stall." Then he walked away.
The next morning, Master, Lou Xiyue, and I bid farewell to Mu Yanxue and descended the mountain with the other heroes. Before leaving, Mu Yanxue and Mian Sha came out to see everyone off.
She smiled gently, wearing a wide-sleeved white dress, her eyebrows slightly raised, and the jade hairpin that Shen Ran had given her was tucked into her hair.
The snow was falling softly. As I turned around, I saw a faint fragrance and sparse shadows. A branch of blood-red plum blossoms was blooming fiercely, covered in snow.
The plum blossoms bloom twice, at the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
I wonder if this crimson weeping plum blossom at Muxue Manor blooms in early spring or at the end of winter?
Main text [15] The Rebellion in Nanyang (Part 1)
Luoyang, Laike Restaurant.
When we went to Muxue Manor, Lou Xiyue and I first encountered the Ghost Face Duo at this restaurant. Now, only the Ghost Face Duo remains, drinking at the next table. This scene truly makes me realize that the world's affairs, after a long period of unity, will inevitably divide, and after a long period of division, will inevitably unite. The cycle of unity and division is truly heartbreaking.
I was enjoying a bowl of noodles when I heard a piercing screech, and a dark shadow flashed past. Da Feng stood there, upright and handsome, on the table.
The strong wind seems to have developed a fascination with aquatic birds lately. Every time it lands, it lands somewhere near the water, and this time was no exception, landing perfectly in my noodle soup with one of its claws.
The big wind turned its eyes and glanced at me as a greeting. Then it placed the letter in its beak in front of its master, took its paw out of my bowl, and squatted on the table.
The master unfolded the letter, and after a moment, he said to me, "Xiao Xiang, you wrote a letter to me?"
"Huh?" I looked at my master.
My master laid the letter out in front of me and said gently, "Did you write this to me when you left the valley?"
I skimmed through the letter. The main point of the letter was to express to my master that the writer had worked very hard to make Medicine King Valley thrive. The letter was signed by my name at the end.
Before I realized that this letter was actually the one I had asked Dafeng to deliver to my master earlier, Lou Xiyue had already read it through roughly.
I asked my master, "Master, you wrote me a letter earlier telling me 'I will return soon,' isn't this a reply?"
The master smiled faintly, "No."
Then I looked at Dafeng again. His eyes were fixed on the roast chicken on the plate. He looked pitiful and on the verge of tears, which made me really reluctant to cut him open to appease the world.
Lou Xiyue pointed expressionlessly to a line in the letter and asked me, "You've been burning the midnight oil every day, copying medical books, and even pulling weeds?"
I said, "Ahem, this letter was written before you entered the valley, when I was still studying very hard."
Lou Xiyue raised an eyebrow. "Oh, before I entered the valley, you 'once again enhanced the reputation of Medicine King Valley by solving a difficult disease'?"
I said, "Hmm..."
Lou Xiyue's tone rose, "And you've grasped the true meaning of 'Nothing is impossible to a willing mind,' and cleaned up the medicine pool that was originally impossible to clean?"
I said, "..."
I looked away from the chef; his expression was indifferent. I glanced at Dafeng again; he stared silently at the roast chicken, seemingly heartbroken. I waved to the shopkeeper, "Bring me a pot of Shaoxing wine."
After finishing this pot of Shaoxing wine, I will never let this eagle deliver messages again.
I said to my master, "Master, before returning to the valley, I need to go to Yangzhou. Would you like to come with me?"
The master smiled and said, "You and Young Master Lou should go. The orchids in the valley are in full bloom; if you go too late, they will wither."
I felt a little disappointed. I had always wanted to travel to Yangzhou with my master; perhaps seeing a willow branch shrouded in mist or a clear pond would remind him of me for a moment. Unfortunately, I never had the chance.
Medicine King Valley is in the opposite direction from Yangzhou. After the meal, Lou Xiyue and I bid farewell to our master. We headed west, while our master headed east. Our master left Dafeng with me, smiling slightly, "If anything happens, have Dafeng carry a message back to the valley."
I thought: given the wind's current state, if I were to encounter a situation where someone were to kill me to cover it up, by the time he flapped his wings and carried the message to Medicine King Valley, I would have already vanished into thin air and passed away.
But I still brought Dafeng with me. I thought that if I left him with my master, and he missed me one day, he could ask Dafeng to deliver a message. By the time Dafeng delivered it, I would have already lost all hope, which would surely cause a tragedy in the world of eagles.
Lou Xiyue and I took a short rest in Luoyang.
As night fell, a whistle blew, and a carrier pigeon flew in, carrying a scroll of text, which landed in Lou Xiyue's palm.
He unfolded the note, his expression changing drastically.
Seeing that Dafeng seemed to covet the little carrier pigeon, I couldn't help but remind Lou Xiyue, "Xiyue, let the pigeon leave as soon as it finishes delivering the message, or it will die."
Lou Xiyue's expression was solemn as she solemnly said to me, "Xiao Xiang, my master has been injured. May we go to Nanyang first to treat him?"
I asked, puzzled, "Isn't I your master?"
Lou Xiyue said, "I have other masters."
I said, "You have so many masters. First there was the former master of Muxue Manor, then there was me, and now there's another one. Can't you focus on one thing at a time?"
Lou Xiyue stood up. "My master is the leader of the Jade Luo Sect, my third uncle. He was injured by a hidden weapon, which was poisoned."
I asked him, "Are you talking about Lou Sanjian?"
Lou Xiyue nodded.
I stood up as well. "Then what are we waiting for? We must hurry and save him."