Eternal Night - Chapter 10
“Little Star has grown up, and he’s quite handsome too.” Cheng Dieyi was in high spirits, her eyes darting back and forth across Xinghun’s face. Suddenly, she blinked, “Since you like Mr. so much, how about Mr. marrying you?”
Xinghun was so frightened that he took a few steps back. Suddenly, he sensed the presence of the master in green outside the bamboo building and was greatly relieved. He hurriedly bowed to Cheng Dieyi and said, "Master in green has come to pick Xinghun up from school. Xinghun will come again tomorrow." Before Cheng Dieyi could reply, he flipped over and floated out of the bamboo building like a swallow.
Cheng Dieyi simply stared at Xinghun's figure disappearing into the bamboo forest, a faint smile slowly appearing on her lips: "Interesting little fellow... Green-Clad Monster, you really know how to keep things from me."
When Xinghun came out to practice his skills at night, he sighed to his master in green robes: "The beautiful gentleman is truly multi-talented, a celestial being!"
The man in blue robes once again gave that look that made him want to laugh, and of course, a fleeting, unnatural blush crossed his face. Xinghun had a plan in mind and thought smugly, even if you tricked him into being a child laborer or a stand-in, he'd still find some fun to get back.
He never asked about the child's identity; he would find out sooner or later. However, he still held onto a sliver of hope for his master in blue, so he finally asked, "Master, the handsome gentleman wants me to learn from someone, to learn everything about him, to be exactly the same."
The man in blue remained silent for a long time before saying, "I'll go and talk to the Valley Master."
Xinghun was a little surprised by his master in green robes' answer, and hugged his waist, murmuring, "Master is so good!"
A white jade hairpin
The dripping spring water, like pearls, echoed throughout the room with a melodious tinkling sound.
Beneath the mountainside sat an ebony tea table, damp with moisture, its smooth wood gleaming like black jade. A hand, as white as jade, steadily held a teapot aloft, pouring in boiling water, releasing a fragrant aroma that permeated the air.
Cheng Dieyi lowered her head and focused intently on preparing the tea, pouring it one by one into the small white porcelain cups. The tea soup was a pale blue-green color, and a hint of satisfaction appeared in her eyes.
An elderly man sitting nearby picked up a cup, squinted slightly, sniffed it, smiled, turned the cup around, and took a small sip to savor it.
Cheng Dieyi watched with satisfaction when suddenly a slender, long hand reached out and picked up a cup, gulping it down in one go, then went to get a second cup. Her expression turned to annoyance, but she didn't dare to act rashly, so she glared at the unrefined man in blue.
"Butterfly's tea ceremony has improved again. It is my greatest honor to have a cup of tea with you!" the old man sighed.
"The bowl is a bit small," the man in blue sighed.
Cheng Dieyi snorted dismissively and changed the subject: "Xinghun is good, with strong comprehension. Half a year is enough."
“Valley Master, he hasn’t completed his apprenticeship yet, and he’s still too young and ignorant of the ways of the world. This plan won’t work!” the man in blue interjected in opposition.
The old man was still sipping his tea, drinking three cups before finally relaxing his brow in satisfaction and saying leisurely, "Good tea!"
The man in blue was getting anxious. After thinking it over several times, he finally spoke again: "His skills are still shallow. I'm afraid... he'll be more likely to cause trouble than help!"
“Many times, success isn’t achieved through martial arts alone. With so many masters in the valley, do we really need one more?” The old man’s eyes gleamed, but quickly returned to their kind expression.
The man in blue lowered his head, recalling Xinghun's radiant eyes, his flawless skin, and the way he clung to him with affection. He couldn't bear to part with him and spoke again, "But he... is only eight years old!" Even he himself felt unsure of his words, and he couldn't help but feel a little dejected.
"Qingyi, you've been in this valley for so many years, has your heart been melted by these mountains and rivers? Have you forgotten why you entered this valley?" The old man's voice was calm, yet sharp as a knife.
"The Valley Master is right." A flicker of sadness flashed across the man in blue's eyes. He dared not, nor could he, voice his true reasons for opposing. He wondered to himself, had his heart truly been melted by Xinghun's smile?
"Dieyi, you've gone to so much trouble. There's only six months left, but I think it should be enough."
"Yes, Valley Master." Cheng Dieyi replied respectfully, raising his eyes, but his gaze remained fixed on the silent man in blue, as if trying to probe into the deepest part of his heart and uncover all his secrets.
Their eyes met, and the man in blue quickly turned his head away and walked out of the wooden building.
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Master Qingyi made an exception and said that he didn't have to go to Mr. Beauty's place today, and that he didn't have to practice his skills either. Xinghun suspected a conspiracy.
Not only that, the man in blue smiled and said, "I'll take you to the market!"
"A holiday? Shopping?" Xinghun asked him seriously, "Can we still buy things from the market?"
"Of course you can. Since you started learning your craft, your master has never let you play. You can buy whatever you want today. Come on, the market will close soon."
Xinghun buried his doubts in his heart and focused his attention back on the market. He thought excitedly, how rare it is to see an ancient market with his own eyes!
A bustling crowd, shops lining the street, tavern flags fluttering in the wind, and a beautiful woman leaning against the wall upstairs, her red sleeves beckoning... He was lost in his imagination, ideally sitting in a teahouse where江湖人士 (jianghu figures) chatted freely, and a singing girl being bullied by a thug, and he would step in to help her—oh no, he would use chopsticks as hidden weapons to stab him until he was covered in thorns...
"We've arrived. Go take a look, is there anything you like? Your master will give it to you." The man in blue's calm voice startled Xinghun from his silly grin.
This is the market? Xinghun instantly lost interest.
There were no teahouses or taverns, no street vendors wielding swords, no crowds, no beauties... A lone wooden building stood in the woods, not a soul in sight, let alone people. Did this kind of market even close down if you arrived late?
The man in blue didn't stop walking, and Xinghun followed him listlessly, utterly dejected. He had originally prepared for a fierce battle, but now he was utterly disappointed.
Upon entering the building, they were greeted by a shopkeeper. With a beaming smile, he clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute to the two men: "Our shop has a full range of goods at fair prices. This way, please!"
"Master, how much silver do you have?" Seeing the shopkeeper's smiling face, Xinghun naturally thought of the cunning merchant who wouldn't make a sale for three years, but would live off his profits for three years afterward. How could he not fleece a customer when they finally came?
The man in blue was taken aback, then laughed: "Since you started learning from your master, you've received two taels of silver every month. It's all deposited with your master, totaling sixty-two taels. You can spend your silver as you please; if you need more, your master will give you more."
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Please make yourself at home, young master. You can pay at the counter. Sir in blue, please have some tea served outside!"
Or a self-service supermarket? Xinghun sighed. He was a paid person after all. Why not spend it? He had room and board provided, so he had money to burn.
The building was very spacious, seven zhang wide and eight zhang long. It was well-stocked with goods: clothes, shoes, socks, stationery, musical instruments, and jewelry.
Xinghun browsed around carefully, but then he looked back at the smiling shopkeeper. The prices were outrageous! Ten taels of silver for a thin shirt? He thought of the handsome gentleman, and the thought popped into his head. His gaze fell on a hairpin. Made of white jade, carved into the shape of a butterfly, elegant and exquisite, it was indeed worthy of the handsome gentleman, yet it had no price tag.
Items without price tags are often expensive; they're used to rip off customers. "Shopkeeper, these pieces of jewelry don't have price tags!"
The innkeeper came swaying his fat buttocks as he ran over, his chest jiggling so much that it reminded Xinghun of Chen Baixiang in an inn. He lowered his head to suppress a laugh.
“Young master, anything without a price tag is an open bid; you may name your price.”
"I get to call out whatever number I want?" Xinghun asked incredulously.
The shopkeeper nodded sincerely: "I didn't expect that you, young master, would have such a beautiful confidante at such a young age. This hairpin is made of the finest jade, crystal clear throughout, and is truly a superior gift for your beloved!"