Ich bin ein Gott in der Chatgruppe aller Reiche

Kapitel 33

Tang Yanchu smiled and said, "Let me see."

Yue Ruzheng put down her needlework, clutched the sleeve to her palm, and said, "If it's not worse than yours, what do you suggest we do?"

He looked up at her radiant face and said, "Then if your clothes get torn in the future, I'll sew them for you."

Yue Ruzheng suddenly felt her face burning and spat, "Your skills are worse than mine, why do I need you to sew for me!" As she spoke, she unfolded the sleeve and held it in her hand for him to see.

Tang Yanchu bent down and examined it closely. After a while, she smiled and said, "It's indeed better than what I sewed."

Yue Ruzheng said smugly, "How about that, Xiao Tang? I've finally surpassed you in one thing."

"Actually, you surpass me in many things," he said earnestly. "Sometimes, in the time it takes me to do one thing, you can do two or three..."

Yue Ruzheng's eyes dimmed slightly, and she said, "Little Tang, why are you saying these things all of a sudden?"

"It's nothing, it's just the truth." He smiled, a hint of helplessness in his smile.

"But you've already done very well." She looked at his young face and those desolate eyes, and said gently, "Little Tang, don't forget, if my clothes get torn in the future, you'll have to sew them for me."

When Yue Ruzheng said those words, she never imagined what would happen later. At that time, she only felt that the morning sun was rising, and the usually quiet room was unusually warm and cozy. Even Xiao Tang, who rarely smiled, seemed to have a faint warmth in his eyes.

Knowing that her master would soon return to Yandang, she only wanted to be as good to him as possible during these days. After her headache subsided, Yue Ruzheng would help him with chores. Early in the morning, she would go into the deep mountains with Xiao Tang to collect herbs. Sometimes they wouldn't return for lunch, so she would take steamed buns, one in each hand, and eat with him. In the afternoons, Tang Yanchu would take her to climb the scenic Jinping Peak and also take her to see the most famous confluence of the nine streams in southern Yandang.

The lake and mountains here are a picturesque scene, verdant and lush, with occasional mountain birds soaring lightly into the clouds. Yue Ruzheng sat atop a high cliff, gazing at the distant peaks, and for some reason, she thought of the scenery of Huangshan that Wei Heng had told her about. She turned to Tang Yanchu, who was standing behind her, and said, "Little Tang, there's a Jade Screen Peak on Huangshan where I live. I've heard that the best time to see it is during snowy days. If you ever go to Huangshan, don't forget it."

Tang Yanchu gazed at the clouds on the horizon. The wind was strong on the mountain, whipping his sleeves. He crouched down, kneeling on one knee, and said, "Ruzheng, I can't climb up to places that are too steep."

Yue Ruzheng paused for a moment, then turned around and said, "It's alright, I'm here."

Tang Yanchu smiled faintly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes: "Do you think I could possibly leave here?"

Yue Ruzheng said dejectedly, "You mean you'll never leave these deep mountains?"

He turned his head, his gaze deep and unfathomable, and said in a somewhat muffled voice, "I don't want to go out into the world." He paused, then continued, "People won't treat me like a normal person, and I don't want to be seen as an outsider. Perhaps you think I'm unambitious, but I just want to live here where no one else is..."

Yue Ruzheng stared at him blankly; his expression was indifferent yet resolute, as if no one could change his mind. Tang Yanchu slowly stood up and said softly, "I think I should make things clear to you."

"Why?" Yue Ruzheng actually understood somewhat in her heart, but she still habitually wanted him to say it.

Tang Yanchu remained silent for a long time before saying, "I'm afraid you're oversimplifying things."

Yue Ruzheng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "What are you thinking about? I don't know why you're saying these things." Without waiting for his reply, she stood up and said with a smile, "It's getting late, let's go back."

She walked ahead alone, with Tang Yanchu following quietly along the path back. When Yue Ruzheng had her back to him, the smile vanished from her face.

Tang Yanchu's meaning was crystal clear to her. He wouldn't leave this sparsely populated mountain, much less integrate into her life of wandering the martial world. And how many days could she stay here? Their chance encounters had brought laughter and sorrow, warmth and coldness, all seemingly dependent on Yue Ruzheng's arrival or departure. When she first left, he didn't even want to say goodbye in person, deliberately choosing to avoid her. Yue Ruzheng had once thought that her return would bring Tang Yanchu much joy and warmth. But she always avoided thinking that one day, she would still leave. Then, would everything she had given him before become endless loneliness after their separation?

--Unless she stays.

As Yue Ruzheng walked along the road, this sentence flashed through her mind. But how easy is it to truly put this simple sentence into practice? Moreover, she was still only vaguely aware of it, and he had never said that she shouldn't leave.

After returning to the courtyard, neither of them mentioned the previous topic again. They went about their usual routine of fetching water and washing vegetables, but when they were about to cook, they discovered that there wasn't much rice left. After lunch, Tang Yanchu was about to go down the mountain to buy more rice, but Yue Ruzheng insisted on taking the bamboo basket from him and going in his place. He earnestly instructed him, "Don't argue with the people in town again."

Yue Ruzheng stood at the courtyard gate, waved to him, and left. Because she wasn't carrying any heavy loads this time, the journey was much easier than before. After arriving in the town, she didn't linger, buying what she needed before setting off on her return journey. Looking at the rugged mountain path beneath her feet, Yue Ruzheng gradually felt a sense of attachment. But just as she rounded a bend, intending to continue, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her: "Ruzheng."

Yue Ruzheng stiffened and quickly turned around. She saw a middle-aged man with a thin face standing by the forest not far away. He was wearing a crane-feather cloak and a wide robe. It was none other than her senior brother, Yu Hezhi.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Let bygones be bygones, deep feelings remain.

"Senior Uncle?!" Yue Ruzheng was stunned when she saw Yu Hezhi, and even forgot to bow.

Yu Hezhi slowly stepped forward and said, "I was just about to go into the mountains to look for you, but I didn't expect to run into you here. What a coincidence!"

Yue Ruzheng asked, "How is Master's health? Is Senior Brother staying at the small residence?"

"Your master is gradually recovering, and Shao Yang has been keeping watch and hasn't gone out. Tingyu Manor has also sent some men for defense. Perhaps Mo Li, knowing this, won't act rashly for the time being." Yu Hezhi looked at her attire and smiled, "Ruzheng, your attire doesn't resemble that of a chivalrous woman from the martial world; you look more like a girl from the mountains."

Yue Ruzheng blushed slightly and lowered her head, saying, "I just came down the mountain to buy some things."

"Has there been any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate last time?" Yu Hezhi asked, looking into her eyes.

Yue Ruzheng's heart skipped a beat. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded. Yu Hezhi frowned: "That young man surnamed Tang, is he really Lian Haichao's son?"

Yue Ruzheng said in a low voice, "Yes."

Yu Hezhi exclaimed in astonishment, "So it's true? Why has no one in the martial world ever known him? Ruzheng, have you found out any details?"

Yue Ruzheng hesitated, remembering what Xiao Tang had told her that night, and felt another pang of pain in her heart. This was Tang Yanchu's deepest wound, one she least wanted to mention, and one she didn't want to tell anyone else.

"Uncle-Master, I only confirmed his identity. There are some things he doesn't want to say, and I can't press him for details," Yue Ruzheng said softly, secretly observing Yu Hezhi's expression.

"I never expected this, I really never expected this..." Yu Hezhi seemed not to care much about these things, but was filled with emotion, muttering to himself, "The lord of Seven Star Island, who holds a pivotal position in the martial arts world, has such a son..."

"Senior Uncle..." Yue Ruzheng hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Is it because Yinxi Xiaozhu had a grudge against Seven Star Island, and you want to start with him? Xiao Tang and Lian Haichao are like strangers; they've never lived together at all!"

Yu Hezhi frowned and said, "Ruzheng, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I would lay a hand on this disabled boy?"

Seeing his solemn expression, Yue Ruzheng was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Ruzheng knows she was wrong, but I'm afraid..."

"You don't need to overthink it." Yu Hezhi led her to the woods by the roadside and whispered, "Since he really is Lian Haichao's son, I have something to ask you to do."

Yue Ruzheng asked in surprise, "Is there anything else?"

Yu Hezhi made sure no one was around before saying seriously, "I want you to go back to Seven Star Island with him to retrieve the treasure of Yinxi Cottage, the Face-Stabilizing Pearl."

"What?!" Yue Ruzheng exclaimed in surprise.

Yu Hezhi quickly gestured for her to calm down with his eyes, saying, "Ruzheng, you don't need to panic like this..."