Eternal Night

Chapter 179

Side Story: The Moon's Soul

"Why not let Ping An learn martial arts?"

"Let her live a peaceful life."

"Don't think I don't know, brother, you still can't forget..."

I heard my eldest uncle and second uncle arguing coming from the bamboo house, and I hid in the flower bushes to eavesdrop. All the children in the valley had to learn martial arts from the age of five, except for me. I was also puzzled as to why my eldest uncle wouldn't let me learn martial arts. He wouldn't even let me touch poison, only teaching me medicine.

The door was flung open with a bang, and Second Uncle stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I cautiously peered through the flowers into the bamboo house and could vaguely make out my great-uncle's pale figure. He seemed to be drinking, one cup after another, without stopping.

Every time after the eldest uncle and the second uncle had a fight, the eldest uncle would drink alone until late at night, not letting anyone disturb him.

The flowers in the mountains are beautiful in spring, and the bamboo house surrounded by flowers is also beautiful. On such a beautiful spring day, Grandpa looks very lonely. The wind blows into the bamboo house, lifting Grandpa's robe, and the wide sleeves of the robe flutter weakly like the last butterfly of spring.

I tiptoed out of the flower field, intending to quietly walk back to my room.

"Ping An, come in." The eldest uncle's voice came calmly.

I had never seen my great-uncle use martial arts, but his keen senses made me think he must be a master as well. I had no choice but to lower my head and walk in.

My uncle put down his wine glass, pulled me onto his lap, and asked me gently, "Does Ping An like learning martial arts?"

"I love it!" My eyes lit up. The little pumpkin in the valley had learned some light-body skills. Last time, it leaped up a tree and helped me get two bird eggs. I was so envious.

A hint of melancholy flashed across the old man's handsome face, and I quickly added, "I don't like it."

I love Grandpa's smile; it's so beautiful, the most handsome person in the valley. He often looks at me with a gentle smile, though his eyes seem to pass right through me and gaze somewhere else.

“Ping An actually likes it, maybe… Uncle is wrong. Ping An, tell Uncle, what kind of martial arts do you want to learn?” Uncle stared at me intently.

My face flushed red; I really wanted to learn martial arts. After hesitating for a while, seeing the encouragement in my great-uncle's eyes, I blurted out, "Lightness skill, hidden weapons!"

Grandpa's face suddenly changed. All his expressions seemed to freeze on his face, and his eyes, like the little bird that had fallen from the tree last time, were dull and lifeless.

I stretched out my arms and hugged his neck tightly, shouting, "Grandpa, Ping An doesn't want to learn martial arts, he wants to grow flowers and learn medicine so he can heal the sick and save lives!"

My great-uncle sighed, hugged me tightly, and patted my back gently.

His embrace was so warm. I didn't know what to say, but I didn't want to leave. My great-uncle held me like that the whole time, and I slowly fell asleep, surrounded by the scents of flowers and wine.

The next day, my great-uncle said I could learn martial arts.

“Ping An, you should only use your martial arts skills to save your life,” the eldest uncle said sternly.

"Can't I even climb trees to steal bird eggs? Does fighting with Little Pumpkin count as saving my life?" I don't know when "saving my life" means, but not being able to use my light-footed skills to climb trees and steal bird eggs is really frustrating.

My uncle seemed stumped by my question. He stared at me for a long time before saying, "Fine, whatever you want. But I want you to swear an oath. You can't lie to anyone."

I tilted my head and thought for a moment before saying, "Second Uncle said that when you encounter bad guys and can't beat them, you should use tricks. Does deceiving bad guys count as deception?"

My great-uncle didn't answer. I looked at him anxiously, afraid that he wouldn't let me learn martial arts anymore. Just as I was about to agree immediately, my great-uncle said softly, "That doesn't count. I want you to never deceive the person you love."

I breathed a sigh of relief and replied with a grin, "Ping An will never lie to my eldest and second uncles."

"What my great-grandfather is saying is that when Ping An grows up and has someone he likes, he must never lie to him."

I didn't quite understand, but I nodded firmly. I was overjoyed; I could finally learn kung fu, and then I wouldn't be afraid of not being able to catch Little Pumpkin when he jumped up into the tree.

Grandpa seemed to be in a bad mood, and said in a low voice, "Starting tomorrow, you will begin learning martial arts from Master Hongyi. Grandpa wants some peace and quiet."

I answered and skipped off to play with the little pumpkin. I ran out of the flower field in one breath, and looked back. My great-uncle was standing alone in the flower field, like a slender orchid in the flower field, all alone.

I hesitated, wanting to go back and stay with him, but then I thought about how I could start learning martial arts with Little Pumpkin from Master Rainbow tomorrow, and I couldn't help but want to tell Little Pumpkin. Grandpa said he wanted to be alone, and after a moment's hesitation, I ran down the mountain.

Every time I returned from Master Hongyi's place, I couldn't help but show off what I had learned to my great-uncle. However, he seemed uninterested, asking in great detail about my medical skills but never a word about my martial arts. Gradually, I stopped talking about it.

I felt guilty; my great-uncle clearly didn't want me to learn martial arts. But I couldn't resist my own desire for it.

I know that I was taken in and brought to the valley by my two great-uncles when I was two years old. But they treated me like their own child. As I grew up, the way my great-uncles looked at me gradually changed.

Especially my second uncle; sometimes when he looked at me, there was something frightening in his eyes. I would timidly call his name, and he would seem to snap out of his daze, glancing at my face before leaving.

As I grew up, my second uncle seemed to drift further and further away from me.

When I was twelve, Master Hongyi took me to Grandpa Pang's place to choose hidden weapons. I immediately spotted a row of small silver throwing knives and clamored to learn how to throw knives.

"Ping An, are you sure?" Master Hongyi and Grandpa Pang both looked at me with very strange eyes.

"This knife looks beautiful, and it fits well in my hand."

The atmosphere in the shop seemed a bit tense. Just as I was about to ask why, Grandpa's voice rang out calmly from outside: "Ping An, starting tomorrow, Grandpa will teach you how to use poison. You won't need to use hidden weapons."

I was a little excited. After learning medicine, it would be even better if I could learn the art of poison from my great-uncle. I glanced longingly at the little silver throwing knife, but then I noticed that Master Rainbow and Grandpa Fatty both seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief.

Another day I'll definitely ask that little pumpkin rascal to pester Grandpa Fatty to tell him the story of the flying knife.

"Peace!" Little Pumpkin called to me from outside the flower field.

Apart from my second uncle and me, anyone who enters my great-uncle's flower field without his permission is easily captivated; this flower field is poisonous.

I ran out with a grin, grabbed Little Pumpkin's hand, and asked, "What's up?"

He glanced into the room and said slyly, "I've found a great place with lots of fun things to do. Want to come?"

Little Pumpkin is Grandpa Fat's grandson, a year older than me. He knows a lot and often tells me about fun things that happen outside the valley. Of course, I went with him.