Early Spring Trip

Chapter 31

The leading monk, holding half a staff, looked shocked and asked, "You...you are Young Master Ye An?"

The young master nodded slightly, sheathed his sword, and said simply, "Gentlemen, I apologize for my rudeness just now."

For a moment, no one dared to step forward and make a move. Before long, a group of people dressed in gray monks' robes descended from above, their robes fluttering. The senior monk at the head of the group had a slender face and a tall, thin figure; he was none other than Abbot Kongfeng of Shaolin Temple.

The monks parted to make way for Master Kongfeng, who slowly stepped forward, prayer beads in hand.

Jun Ye'an, with the courtesy due to a junior, said: "I visited Shaolin at this late hour and have been disrespectful. I hope the Master will forgive me."

Master Kongfeng slightly extended his right arm, gesturing for him to dispense with formalities, and a smooth, gentle internal force lifted Jun Ye'an up: "Young Master Jun, there's no need for such formalities."

The young master and Master Kongfeng exchanged glances, and the young master said in a low voice, "This young master said that Master Tufeng was murdered... Ye An wonders if this is true?"

Master Kongfeng closed his eyes and sighed, "Indeed, Junior Brother Tufeng has passed away. His throat was slashed open, and his hair and beard fell out. He was indeed murdered."

A low gasp came from the mountainside, followed by a dark figure falling down. The young master leaped up, caught Chu Xia, and put her back on the ground. He then examined her expression by the firelight.

Chu Xia's face turned deathly pale, her lips drained of color, and she murmured, "Master Tu Feng... another death like this?"

The young master's eyes were also deep, but his tone was extremely calm and gentle as he softly comforted her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Master Kongfeng asked, "Why does this young lady say that she died in such a manner again?"

The young master recounted the story of Lady Wangyun and the murder in Green Willow Lane. After he finished speaking, Chu Xia said in a trembling voice, "The murderer must have followed us to find Master Tufeng. Perhaps, all along the way... he has been following us."

"You're talking nonsense!" the young monk interrupted. "You're the murderer! Several of us brothers saw your back and smelled this fragrance!"

Master Kongfeng waved his hand slightly and said, "Have you gone to see Junior Brother Tufeng?"

The young master readily replied, "That's right."

"For the past twenty years, Junior Brother Tu Feng has been practicing the Buddhist mental cultivation methods transmitted from Indian Tantric Buddhism, and he is currently meditating in the dense forest behind Shaoshi Mountain. May I ask what business you have with him, Young Master?"

“My late father was on good terms with Master Tufeng. Recently, Ye An heard some stories from the past and came to ask Master Tufeng about them. However, before the master could tell him, he was killed by a villain.”

"As for who the murderer is, it might be related to this past event." The young master paused. "This young master has identified the girl beside me as the murderer, which must be a misunderstanding. Master Tu Feng is highly skilled in martial arts; how could a little girl who doesn't know martial arts possibly kill him?"

Master Kongfeng raised his eyes and looked at Chuxia several times.

"Abbot, don't listen to them!" the young monk interjected. "Who says a murderer has to know martial arts?"

The young master's eyes lit up, and he asked, "What do you mean by that?"

“When we arrived, Grandmaster Tu Feng was still on his last breath. He… he sat there, waving to us, telling us not to chase after him anymore—if Grandmaster Tu Feng hadn’t willingly let himself be killed, how could he… have been so calm?”

The abbot closed his eyes for a long time before sighing and saying, "Young Master Jun, we are friends despite our age difference. It's not that I don't trust you about today's matter, but it seems to be very complicated and difficult to resolve. Why don't you come up the mountain with me first, and we can find a solution? As for this young lady, please come along as well."

Chu Xia was initially arranged to stay in a small courtyard on the east side of the temple. Before long, a monk in charge invited the young master to come over, and Chu Xia was still somewhat afraid. Although she didn't say anything, her eyes timidly glanced at the young master's back.

The young master had already reached the door, but then seemed to sense something and turned back, saying in a low voice, "This is the heart of Shaolin Temple, it's very safe. You haven't slept all night, so go and rest in the side room. I'll be right back."

Not wanting to worry him, Chu Xia nodded and said, "Then go ahead. Be careful."

Sunrise had passed, and the morning mist was slowly dissipating amidst the dappled light and shadows. Footsteps faded into the distance, but Chu Xia was far from sleepy. She sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard, took a twig in her hand, and began to draw haphazardly on the ground.

With a soft thud, something fell at my feet.

In early summer, I picked up that pebble and saw that it was wrapped in a layer of oiled paper.

The oiled paper bears only four characters: "Be as careful at the end as at the beginning."

Who threw it in? Was it for her? And what does it mean?

Chu Xia stood up, looked around, and opened the courtyard gate, only to see several martial monks standing at the gate, all with furrowed brows and lowered eyes—but where was anyone else?

But the young master was nowhere to be found. Chu Xia sat on the stone bench, looking at the note over and over again. She didn't know how much time had passed when the sunlight shifted and she suddenly felt light as someone lifted her up in their arms.

Just as she was about to struggle, she heard the young master's voice in her ear, "Why are you asleep on the stone bench? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"

The young master carried her straight back to the room, placed her on the bed, and said gently, "Get some sleep, we'll go down the mountain tonight."

Chu Xia sat up instead, hugging her knees, and asked, "Are they willing to let us down the mountain?"

The young master smiled faintly: "I promise the abbot that I will find the murderer within two months and send him back to Shaolin."

"What if... we can't catch them?"

The young master did not answer, but Chu Xia's heart tightened. Someone of his status and position in the martial world was a man of his word. If he broke his promise, there would only be one outcome: retirement.

Chu Xia couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke his eyebrows and eyes, whispering, "Why are you doing this? We didn't kill them."

“Although we didn’t kill them, it was caused by us.” The young master sighed softly, his brows furrowed with weariness. He took her hand and pressed it against his cheek. “Besides, two months is more than enough time.”

"Oh, right, someone threw this into the yard after you left." Chu Xia unfolded the note.

The young master glanced at it but was not surprised. He pondered for a moment and said, "These four words, it is unknown whether they are friend or foe."

Outside the window, the bamboo shadows swayed gently. The young master's profile was handsome, and his gaze was as gentle and calm as ever. Chu Xia suddenly felt at ease, slowly lowered her eyes, and whispered, "Aren't you tired?"

The young master stroked her temple: "Go to sleep, I'll stay right here."

The small room was extremely simple, with only a table and a bed. Chu Xia moved over and mustered up her courage to say, "Why don't you take a nap too?"

The young master was taken aback. After a moment, the bed gently sank down. Chu Xia had her eyes closed, but her cheeks were burning red. Fortunately, she was facing the inside of the bed, otherwise she would have been in real trouble.

She carefully tried to curl up, but heard the young master's voice behind her, which sounded both seductive and pleading: "Little girl, may I hold you?" Before she could answer, his hand had already slid to her waist and wrapped around her tightly, while his breath fell on her hair, steady and warm.

Her whole body tensed up, and even the slightest movement behind her became unusually sensitive. Chu Xia suddenly regretted her suggestion.

"Just like that, don't move," the young master whispered, closing his eyes. He smelled a faint fragrance, and the girl in his arms was warm and soft. All the troubles and entanglements of the outside world vanished in this moment.

Chapter Thirty

The descent was smooth and unimpeded.

As they reached the foot of Mount Shushi, Chu Xia said with some regret, "I wonder what Master Tu Feng originally wanted to tell you."

The young master looked back at the vast mountains in the night and murmured an "Mmm".

“Young Master, I’ve been thinking about what’s happened these past few days.” Chu Xia said slowly, “The murder in Green Willow Lane, Su Xiucai being hunted down, your last-minute decision to come to Mount Song, and then Master Tu Feng being killed—these things all seem extremely coincidental, but as I think about it, I feel like something is not quite right.”

The young master slowed his pace, gesturing for her to continue.

Chu Xia tightened her grip on the reins and continued, "What I mean is, the enemy must have planted spies among us, otherwise how would they know our whereabouts?"

The young master smiled slightly, and after a while, he said, "Girl, why do you think these things are all coincidences?"

Chu Xia thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I don't know."

Under the moonlight, she turned to look at the young master. He carried the Yuyang Sword on his back, like a young swordsman in the martial world, his smile unrestrained and fearless, captivating all who saw him.

"You think it's a coincidence because every single event makes it impossible for you to guess the other party's true intentions. Think back further: the death of Lady Wangyun, the three gifts from the mysterious person, and then, the appearance of Tiangang. Girl, think about it carefully. It seems that the unseen enemy even included my plan to destroy Tiangang in their calculations."

Chu Xia shivered and murmured, "That's true."

The young master's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing in them: "Madam Wangyun's death was perhaps due to an affair with someone in the manor, which ultimately led to her being silenced. You say there must be an accomplice lurking among my ranks, which makes sense. But what about everything that followed? How do you explain that?"

"I don't know, they even knew clues about my fiancé's family, and led us to Green Willow Lane... I feel very scared," Chu Xia said softly, suddenly feeling the chill of the night even more intense.

The young master laughed, leaned forward slightly, and pulled her close, holding her waist as he said, "Let's not think about those things we can't understand for now. You just need to think about what led Tiangang to this."

Chu Xia's eyes lit up: "Shanshui Yao?"

“That’s right. It’s Shanshui Yao. Tiangang has been destroyed, but I have no interest in Shanshui Yao. They are probably more anxious than I am.” The young master sighed softly. “So, even if the other side has the upper hand right now, if we want to win against all odds, I’m afraid we have no choice but to go and find Shanshui Yao.”

Chu Xia was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm wondering, is the Ballad of Mountains and Rivers itself... a huge trap?"

The young master did not answer, but instead gradually urged his horse forward, letting the breeze flutter their clothes.

The tense atmosphere seemed to dissipate with the cool evening breeze. The young master smiled, with a hint of teasing, and said, "A woman follows her husband wherever he goes, whether he's a chicken or a dog. Even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair ahead, you'll have to go with me."

Chu Xia was startled, then blushed and slammed her elbow backward. The young master could have dodged or stopped her, but he didn't dodge or avoid, and just let her crash into him.

Even through the thin clothing, you could feel his firm muscles. Was he in pain...? Chu Xia didn't know, but her own arm went numb immediately.

"Who wants to marry you?" she couldn't help but mutter.

Suddenly, the young man leaned down, whispered in her ear with ill intent, "We've shared a bed, maybe... we'll have a baby tomorrow..."

"Ah!" Chu Xia subconsciously turned around, staring blankly at the chuckling young master, and suddenly realized that she had never thought of this question before. She bit her lip hard, her eyes widened, and her face suddenly turned deathly pale.

The young master lightly kicked the horse's belly with both feet, and Lightning let out a joyful neigh, galloping forward.

The moonlight, like water, fell in wispy strands, seemingly transformed into clear droplets, landing on the back of my hand. The young master frowned, tightened the reins, and said slowly, "Why are you crying?"

"I...I've heard my elders talk about premarital pregnancy...it's the most shameful thing for a woman," Chu Xia said, rubbing her eyes. "Jun Ye'an! You know it's bad for a woman, you—"

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly remembered that she was the one who had told him, "You should sleep for a while too." She felt even more remorseful, and her tears fell even faster.

The young master couldn't help but smile slightly, but he didn't explain. He simply said softly, "It seems you have no choice but to marry me and follow my lead."

He suddenly felt extremely happy. Lightning seemed to understand its master's intentions, and its hooves flew. He held her even tighter. On the official road, a horse carried two people, raising dust behind them, feeling boundless joy.

From Mount Song to Junshan Dongting, the route passes through Dengzhou and Suizhou, and then arrives at Junshan in Yuezhou.

The journey had been quite hurried. Upon arriving in Suizhou that night, the weather was extremely hot and humid. After settling into the inn, Chu Xia opened the window and said, "This journey has been too smooth, hasn't it?"

The young master had just finished bathing, his wet hair still hanging down his back. He seemed unconcerned about the dripping water, and simply tapped the table, saying, "If our opponents are truly monitoring our every move, then they will set up all their ambushes at the location of Shanshuiyao."

Chu Xia was startled by the word "spy" and quickly closed the window.

The young master looked up and said patiently, "The weather is very stuffy."

“But… there might be hidden weapons.” Chu Xia hesitated.

The young master couldn't help but smile: "Even if there are hidden weapons, a thin window can't stop them."

Chu Xia sat down facing him and analyzed earnestly, "I still have a question."

"Um?"

"Do you think our opponents know that... the place where 'Shanshui Yao' is located is Junshan?"

The young master put on his robe and stood up, smiling slightly. "I thought you would have asked this question long ago."

His expression was rather arrogant, as if he treated her like a child who knew nothing. Chu Xia felt a little frustrated, but she could only bite the bullet and say, "I... really didn't expect that."

"If they knew that the Ballad of Mountains and Rivers referred to Junshan, then everything would be simple—they had already set up this trap, waiting for us to fall into it. This also shows that the mysterious man and Tiangang are not on the same side. Otherwise... Tiangang would have seen through the bait I set at Xiaojing Lake and would not have thrown his armor into the battle at Xiaojing Lake."

The young master paused, then continued, "If they didn't know that the Ballad of Mountains and Rivers refers to Junshan, then..."

Chu Xia frowned, then naturally continued his words: "So, the person behind the scenes, like Tian Gang, just hopes to use the power of the Jun Mansion to find out the secret behind Shan Shui Yao, and finally reap the benefits."

The young master looked at her approvingly, then reached out and played with her long hair, chuckling softly, "What a clever child."