The moment I just experienced, when I was on the verge of death, left me feeling utterly dejected. I weakly groaned, "I'd rather die."
He gently patted my back, "Are you feeling better?"
The waves rose and fell, and the ship rocked. I reached out haphazardly to try and steady myself and just managed to grab Lou Xiyue's hand.
He tightened his grip on my shoulder and whispered behind my ear, "Don't panic, I'm here."
Lou Xiyue said, "Xiao Xiang, hold on to me tightly."
He picked up the oar and rowed towards the shore. I watched him, water droplets running down his wet hair, down his cheeks, and down his jaw. His white shirt was completely soaked, almost transparent, and clung to his muscular chest.
The tides still flowed, but the boat no longer floated as much.
I asked him, "Did you collect the Bloodstone Grass?"
Lou Xiyue smiled at me and said, "Hmm." In an instant, he reached out and gently combed my wet hair, saying casually, "You must have been scared when I wasn't here."
I looked down and wrung out my clothes. "No."
His laughter came from above, "When you're embarrassed, you lower your head."
I pondered the fact that he had given me air underwater just now, and felt a sense of unease in my heart. But when I looked up at Lou Xiyue, he seemed calm and composed.
I think: since Lou Xiyue has seemingly forgotten about this matter, as his teacher, I should also regard this matter as a passing cloud.
Once ashore, we headed towards the fishing village.
Lou Xiyue called to me from behind, "Xiao Xiang?"
I didn't realize he was so close. When I turned around, I bumped into his chest. He pinched my chin with his fingertips and chuckled, "Just now underwater..."
I pushed him away with my hand and quickly replied, "Thank you so much for saving me. I'm so glad I took you as my disciple. I'm so relieved, so very relieved."
Lou Xiyue smiled, and said in a low voice, drawing out her words, "If you want to comfort me—then let's do it again."
He lowered his head, and the tip of his nose brushed against the tip of mine.
I said, "Lou Xiyue, I am your master."
He gripped my shoulder with one hand, raising an eyebrow. "So what if I'm a master?"
I said, "I have someone I love, and I will never be unfaithful to him in this life. I will marry no one but him."
He asked me slowly and deliberately, "Oh—? Is your sweetheart very nice?"
I nodded seriously, "He's better than anyone else. There's no man in the world who can compare to him."
Lou Xiyue remained silent for a moment, without saying a word.
I tried to walk around him, but he reached out and picked me up around the waist.
I said excitedly, "Lou Xiyue, I told you I have someone I love. I consider you my disciple, so there should be a hierarchy between us. Don't do anything reckless."
He didn't do anything further, he just carried me towards the fishing village.
I couldn't break free and shouted angrily, "What exactly do you want to do?!"
He raised an eyebrow, his tone extremely indifferent, "What do you think I'm going to do? The sea breeze is strong here, I'm afraid you'll catch a cold from the dampness."
Text [19] Amber Light
We stayed overnight in the fishing village. At dusk that day, the sky and sea merged into one, the azure sea resembling silk, the setting sun casting shimmering light across the water, the vast expanse of water rippling gently. (8 9 Literature Network)
I borrowed a clean set of clothes from a girl in the fishing village, changed into them, and stepped out of the house. I saw Lou Xiyue carrying a sea fish and said to Ji Jiu with a smile, "Ji Jiu, let's steam the fish tonight."
He rolled up his sleeves, his profile bathed in the sunset glow, as if shrouded in starlight.
Ji Jiu took the fish, a smile curving his lips. "Okay."
Lou Xiyue turned around and saw me, smiling as she said, "Xiao Xiang, why don't you go to the Eastern Lands with the Yazhou caravan tomorrow?"
He handed me the Bloodstone Grass and asked, "Did the bird you sent out to deliver the message reply?"
I corrected him, "That's an eagle. Dafeng hasn't come back yet, and I don't expect him to. It would be best if he could find a dove in the sky that would fly wing to wing with him, and then turn into a butterfly and fly away, so that I never see him again."
Lou Xiyue looked me up and down and said seriously, "Indeed, 'one's environment shapes one's character'."
I was puzzled. "Don't be so subtle. What are you trying to say?"
Lou Xiyue said expressionlessly, "You look a lot like that bird."
I glanced at Lou Xiyue and said, "How many times have I told you? He's not a bird, he's an eagle, and he's your master's friend."
He coughed lightly, "I'd better go watch the fishing instead."
He turned and strode away. I glanced at the darkening sky and felt annoyed: the slackers had already returned.
The host of the house where we stayed was named Zhang Tong. He was in his thirties, had a beard, and a kind and honest appearance. Ji Jiu prepared some side dishes, and Zhang Tong seemed to get along well with Lou Xiyue, bringing out a jar of pepper wine to drink with him.
Pepper wine, brewed in jars with pomegranate blossoms, is extremely spicy and intoxicating.
I pride myself on not being as good a drinker as Du Kang (a legendary Chinese wine connoisseur), but at least I can rival Li Bai (another famous Chinese poet). When drinking with the three high-ranking officials, I always feel the proud and unrestrained spirit of "I am the only one sober while everyone else is drunk, and I am the only one pure while the world is muddy." Because after three cups, the three high-ranking officials would always collapse, lying there like corpses, groaning in pain.
I initially thought he was just rambling about his past with the girl "wearing a blue and white floral headscarf." But one day, after a few drinks, he started mumbling. I was so bored that I leaned in to listen, and what I heard brought tears to my eyes.
He wasn't just making noise; he was singing.
Singing those ancient ballads, with a mournful melody, and vaguely reciting the words "What year is it tonight? What time is the moon?", the Third Master closed his eyes, occasionally shaking his head to the beat, immersed in his own world. This suddenly made me, who wasn't drunk, feel anxious, as withered and droopy as a flower.