Leisurely Young Master

Chapter 14

He cut it in half with a knife, giving her one half, then looked up and asked:

"What gossip did you hear at the restaurant today?"

"It's nothing."

"There's a lot of gossip going on in the restaurant. Gu Shaode and the Huang family's scions are both here. They're in the limelight, so their conversation is bound to revolve around important matters," he said, glancing at her with a smile still playing on his lips.

She thought for a moment and said, "It's about... Fairy Haitang's marriage to Tu Sanlong."

"So that's what it is. I was just about to tell you. Dengjiabao is keen to arrange this marriage with Tu Sanlong. The marriage will definitely go through. Yunjiazhuang will definitely be there. If your health permits, why don't you go and take a look together?"

"Young master, although the falling flowers are willing but the flowing water is indifferent, this fairy of the crabapple tree... is still the number one beauty..." She had a question in her heart.

He looked at her intently but did not reply.

"All that glitters is not gold; all that's inside is rotten," she murmured to herself, then took a deep breath and said:

"...Xianyun, though the falling flowers are willing but the flowing water is indifferent, this Fairy of Begonia is still the most beautiful woman. Haven't you ever been moved?"

Upon hearing this, he smiled and said:

"According to you, wouldn't I be completely infatuated with beautiful women?"

"That's right. When choosing a wife, one should choose a virtuous one. Looks are secondary. In the future, when I marry, even if she is not beautiful, her character will be unparalleled." She said this intentionally or unintentionally.

He stared intently at her, a tender smile still playing on his lips.

That incredibly intimate smile brought his entire handsome face to life; his eyebrows and eyes, even his superior looks, seemed to be imbued with spring, a boundless and gentle spring breeze—this was exactly how she felt.

She had to admit that if he could keep his beauty at arm's length, so could she. It was just that her gaze would linger a little too long; it was only human nature, a basic instinct, and she couldn't be blamed, especially when he impersonated the Goddess of the Luo River.

At the same time, this spring breeze reminded her of the time she was bedridden recovering from her injuries.

Her willpower was astonishing; within two months, she was able to get out of bed on her own and even wanted to practice meditation. Gongsun Zhi initially disagreed, but Gongsun Yun said something along these lines:

"I've been in the village for the past few months, so why don't I come and help out?"

Help? What could he possibly do to help? She wondered, but he was her savior, and she was used to it, so she didn't dare say anything and let him help. Later, she realized that his help was really...

Every morning he would help her get out of bed. At first, she would be covered in sweat just walking around the room, but he would not stop her. He would help her walk for as long as she wanted. Later, she realized something was wrong. Her mental strength was far greater than her physical strength. She walked for too long on the first day, and on the second day she wanted to get up, but she could only stare at the top of the bed.

Because her body completely refused to cooperate.

He sat on the edge of the bed, and transformed into the goddess Luo, displaying an exquisite smile.

"Wu Bo, if you can't walk, I can carry you on my back, even just as a token gesture."

"..." All that glitters on the outside, rotten on the inside, what a monster!

From then on, she became very disciplined and never pushed herself when she was tired from walking. In the end, he stopped helping her and just sat in the pavilion in the courtyard. Even though it was the hottest time of summer, he smiled as if a spring breeze was blowing, and the whole place was full of spring colors.

"Here's what we'll do," he encouraged, "I'll sit here and offer you some beautiful women. Girls love pretty things, and I hope this will motivate you to come over and rest here."

When she first heard it, she almost fell to the ground, thinking that Young Master Xianyun had been switched with someone else.

By the time she heard it a second time, she was already numb.

She adapted very quickly, extremely quickly.

Everyone has a hidden side. Even those who appear virtuous in public might resort to rape and plunder to vent their frustrations. Gongsun Yun, though seemingly pure and aloof in public, is actually quite obsequious and sycophantic in private. Moreover, when he laughs, it's genuine, heartfelt, and without any pretense. She admired this greatly.

He seemed to read her mind and smiled again:

"Has Wu Bo ever thought that if you have to wear a mask even to your own family, then your whole life will be a miserable one?"

"Xianyun is right." Unfortunately, she had no family, so naturally, no one could discover her other side.

The two ate quietly for a while. It was rare for her to not think about anything, just enjoying the leisurely time. Recently, she had been having more of these moments, and she didn't know if it was a good thing or not, but she always indulged herself.

The dishes on the table were rather bland, and the pot contained not wine, but health-preserving tea. Constantly focusing on health is pointless; it would be quicker to kill her with a single blow. What's the point of living so long? Do you want to witness all the changes in the world?

She was forced to drink a cup, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She quietly passed the light medicinal meal to the other person and ate a small roasted chicken with lots of oil instead.

It's oily, fragrant, and delicious; eating it will surely lift your spirits.

He glanced at her, then poured her a cup of herbal tea and said:

"Everything should always be distributed equally."

"I'm weak, I need to gain some weight to be healthy," she said matter-of-factly.

He was somewhat helpless, but in the end he still took care of the medicinal meals for her. After the meal, she respectfully presented a plate of chicken bones. He walked to the railing, circulated his qi through the bones, and they instantly turned into powder and fell into the lake.

That's brilliant! She was so moved and impressed that she'll never have to worry about getting caught cheating again.

He took out a snow-white handkerchief and dried his fingers. Seeing that she also took out the same handkerchief to wipe her hands, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "I thought you used a brightly colored handkerchief."

She also frankly admitted: "Since the river is now calm, it would be more appropriate to use the same handkerchief as the one used by the Yun family."

"According to your habits, you should not be obsessed with anything or linger for long, as this is the way to preserve your life, is that right?" He smiled, appearing very elegant in the moonlight, even with a hint of pity.

She looked away, her hands behind her back, staring at the dark artificial lake, pretending she hadn't seen anything.

"Wu Bo, don't you find it strange? Whether it's me, the people of Yun Family Village, or even most martial arts practitioners, if they carry a handkerchief, they are mostly plain white-faced," he suddenly said.

These days, whenever he's at Yun Family Manor, he enjoys chatting with her, and she doesn't deny that she enjoys these chats too. She thought for a moment and said:

"I thought this was a preference of the people from the Central Plains."

"To tell you the truth, when I was twenty, I had a savior..." he said with a smile.

She glanced at him.

"The savior gave me a plain handkerchief as a token. I could tell she gave it to me reluctantly. After I returned to the manor, the whole manor switched to using the same handkerchiefs. Before long, young men and women in the martial arts world all followed the example of the Yun family manor and used plain handkerchiefs as their personal handkerchiefs." He gently shook the snow-white, flawless handkerchief in his hand.

That gesture, combined with the person, truly exuded an elegant and boundless charm; no wonder everyone chooses this handkerchief.

She took a deep breath and said angrily:

"You saw through your savior's intentions long ago. Even Che Yanyan, the protector of the Bai Ming Cult, switched to using the same handkerchief because of this. If you ever see someone take out a brightly colored handkerchief, you'll be suspicious of that person, won't you?" She had practically walked into a trap.

Gongsun Yun simply smiled and remained silent.

She touched her nose and didn't ask any further questions, simply enjoying the moonlight with him.

It was not yet the fifteenth of the month, and the full moon was mostly obscured by dark clouds, but its light was still evenly distributed across the land. The manor houses in the distance were brightly lit and full of life; she could almost imagine the Yun family disciples busy entertaining guests in the front, while the back remained a tranquil world unto itself.

"It's late, be careful not to catch a cold. Let me take you back to your room," he said. His voice carried a hint of pity.

She would be willing to watch the moon here until dawn, but she didn't say it aloud. She only said:

"I can go back by myself."

He smiled and said, "That won't do. Your injuries have healed, but your body hasn't fully recovered. If you encounter someone showing affection, you won't be able to avoid it even if you want to. Let me take you back."

Upon hearing this, she nearly jumped over the railing and fell into the lake again.

A young hero confessing his love... she's never experienced that before, has she?

"He Zai's kung fu is not weak, it is even top-notch." He said, "His kung fu was passed down from you. Although the master leads you in, the cultivation is up to each individual, but you, as the young master, should be much stronger than you were at fourteen. Unexpectedly, your kung fu is really too weak."

"Just tell me straight," she chuckled to herself. He thought she was highly skilled in martial arts, but he probably didn't expect the terrible state she was in after falling off the cliff.

Since he'd already seen through her, she figured she might as well just say it directly.

"When I was fourteen, I was tragically attacked by the sect leader. I could practice my kung fu again, but my progress was very slow. I didn't have much energy to devote to martial arts. Fortunately, there was He Zai at that time. My original surname was Wang, and I was born posthumously. My father changed his surname to Huangfu before he passed away. I taught He Zai all the Wang family's martial arts. Everyone has different talents, and he was considered to have excellent aptitude. He learned it all." She said calmly, without any change in tone when mentioning He Zai.

She noticed that Gongsun Yun's sleeve moved slightly, but she couldn't tell if it was the wind or if he wanted to hold her and comfort her. However, he looked relaxed, making it impossible to tell what was going on.

"Well then, since you're idle in the manor anyway, you can practice your skills slowly." He pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing across his deep eyes. "How about we start now?"

"...May I ask, how do I begin?" She felt a little uneasy.

His smile was captivating in the moonlight. "I'm not a strict teacher, you don't need to be wary of me. Shuangyun Pavilion isn't far from the shore, but there are no easy points of leverage in between. Are you up to the task with your light-footed skills?"

She observed for a moment, then nodded hesitantly. "It should be fine."

Gongsun Yun laughed:

"If you can't do it, I'll just stand right next to you and call out."

"..." How can one not bow one's head when under someone's roof? She secretly gathered her strength and leaped over the fence with him.

His white robes fluttered in the moonlight, and he was indeed so handsome that approaching him felt like entering a celestial realm. The sheen of his robes shimmered with silver, making him appear ethereal and otherworldly. The color of his attire perfectly complemented his aloof and refined air, yet it also subtly enhanced his spring-like charm—no, his spring-like smile. Clearly, this man had a remarkable sense of style. One wonders, if someone dressed like this, so ethereal as to be a banished immortal, were to strip naked and still resemble a fairy?

The thought startled her slightly, and her feet suddenly sank into the ground. She was then steadily supported from the left and gracefully landed on the shore.

The person who was right in front of her suddenly retreated to her side, too fast for her to even catch. No wonder he dared to risk leaping off the cliff amidst the rocks that day… Her heart was as still as water, wasn't it?

"No waves?"

"It's nothing, I'm just... a little weak." She looked down and saw his arm around her waist.

He noticed it too, slowly withdrew his arm, and said:

"Excuse me, Wubo. I was going to support your arm, but your left hand is not strong enough, so I had to hook my arm around yours instead..."

She slowly raised her face, meeting his averted gaze. His expression seemed apologetic, yet a faint smile played at the corners of his lips. Was this openness a sign that he considered her a fool, or that he saw her as family and was revealing his truest self?

She sighed inwardly. Living under someone else's roof... People of the martial world don't concern themselves with formalities. It's said that when she fell off the cliff and fainted in his arms, he carried her for a while before handing her over to others. So unconventional, so unconventional.

He accompanied her all the way back to her dormitory. When disciples passed by along the way, he immediately went to them.

"Young master, the handsome scholar requests an audience."

"Jade-faced scholar?" She laughed, "It's quite amusing to tease him with nicknames."

"Jade face refers to handsome appearance," Gongsun Yun replied casually. "Wu Bo, you should rest first."

She responded and walked into the courtyard. Looking back, she saw him seemingly lost in thought, yet still standing in the same spot. She shrugged, pushed open the door to her bedroom, and soon heard light footsteps fading away.

She pushed open the window, the night breeze caressing her face; he had indeed left. She gazed at the night scene for a moment, then picked up her brocade sash, which was almost touching the ground.

The end of the ribbon was damp, from when she almost fell into the lake. She stared at it for a moment, then turned around and saw that there were new clothes in the wardrobe.

Curious, she unfolded the new clothes. The style was similar to what she was wearing, but it was spring white, and the belt was also long enough to reach the ground. He was clever; he had guessed that she was afraid, and no matter what new clothes she wore, the belt would definitely be too long.

Her palms were slightly sweaty. She remembered that if it weren't for the long belt around her waist that briefly stopped her momentum when she fell, she would have been smashed to pieces due to the extremely fast speed. From then on, even though she could endure everything, she still subconsciously wore a long belt around her waist.

It's only natural to save your own family first, but unfortunately she was all alone.

Only you can save yourself; you can't rely on anyone else.

Thinking of this, she sighed. This is what they mean by "once bitten, twice shy," but she wondered if she had used that saying incorrectly.

This winter was relatively warm, and her recovery wasn't too difficult. She lay down in bed happily. She slept soundly in this bed, unlike before, when she only dared to sleep freely when He Zai was around. Life here was leisurely; sometimes she felt like it was all a dream.

When she woke up, she found that her head had been smashed open and she was lying at the bottom of the cliff.