Peach Blossoms

Chapter 22

"What...do you usually do?" Lin Suyang looked at the clean and tidy kitchen and the spotless room. He couldn't see, so how did he cook? And these things were simply not something a blind person could do.

"You'll know once you wait a little longer," Si Junxing said, pulling her close as he understood her doubts.

A moment later, laughter and chatter came from outside. "Brother Si Junxing, come out quickly! I brought your favorite sweet and sour fish!" Who else could have heard such lively and cheerful laughter but Chen Xiao?

Shen Xiao skipped and hopped into the house, followed by the dazed Yan Muqing.

Upon seeing Lin Suyang, Chen Xiao opened his mouth wide: "Su... Suyan sister? You are Suyan sister."

"Has Xiao'er ever seen someone who looks exactly like me?" Lin Suyang asked with a smile.

"It really is you!" Shen Xiao immediately handed the basket in her hand to Yan Muqing behind her, then ran over and pulled Lin Suyang from Si Junxing's arms. "Oh, Sister Suyan, you've finally come! You don't know how Brother Si Junxing has been these past few days..."

"Xiao'er." Before she could finish speaking, Si Junxing called out to her.

"What's wrong with him?" Lin Suyang asked curiously.

"N-nothing... Oh, I was saying that Brother Si Junxing misses you a lot," Shen Xiao stammered, lowering her head.

"Yeah?"

"Of course. Are you hungry? Come and eat, Shen Xiao's cooking is excellent." Si Junxing took Lin Suyang's hand. Shen Xiao quickly took the basket back from Yan Muqing and put it on the table, opening it as she said, "That's right, Sister Suyan hasn't tried my cooking yet, has she? Even the picky Muqing brother praised it." Si Junxing laughed.

Shen Xiao swooned again: "Brother Si Junxing, you look so handsome when you smile. I've always seen you in disguise before, and when you take off the mask, you always have a worried look on your face..."

"Xiao'er." This time it was Yan Muqing who spoke.

Lin Suyang noticed that Yan Muqing hadn't spoken since entering the room and kept glancing at him with complicated expressions. Had something happened to change this person who, though seemingly foolish, was never one to remain silent?

"It smells so good." Si Junxing's voice brought Lin Suyang back from her reverie. She got up, served him rice, and handed it to him.

"From now on, I'll cook for you, okay?" Lin Suyang whispered in his ear.

Si Junxing smiled but didn't speak, only nodding repeatedly like a child who had received candy. Yan Muqing frowned even more when she saw his happy expression.

After the meal, Lin Suyang helped clear the dishes and took them to the kitchen to wash. Seeing Shen Xiao skillfully tidying up, she said gratefully to her, "Thank you, Xiao'er. Thank you and Mu Qing for taking such good care of him these past few days."

“Sister Suyan, don’t say that. I’ve said we’re friends. How can we ignore a friend in trouble? Besides, you and Brother Si Junxing are both good people. Heaven will surely take care of you. Brother Si Junxing will get better someday,” Shen Xiao said earnestly.

Lin Suyang smiled and said, "Whether he recovers or not, I will stay by his side."

"By the way, weren't you supposed to go back to the mountain that day? Why didn't you go back in the end?"

Hearing this, Shen Xiao hesitated for a moment, then ran to the door and peeked out cautiously. Only after confirming that no one was around did she close the door and walk to Lin Suyang's side, whispering, "Sister Suyan, don't tell anyone that I told you, especially Brother Muqing."

What does this have to do with Yan Muqing? Lin Suyang nodded in confusion.

"Actually, we were planning to go back to the mountain that day, but then Kong Ling said there wasn't much to do on the mountain and suggested that we stay down there for a few more days before going back. I was playful, so I begged Brother Mu Qing to agree. Kong Ling then said that he would come to find us, and maybe we would know some fun places. As a result, we met Brother Si Junxing on the way."

He was in a hurry to get on his way and didn't see you. We were worried something had happened to you, so we followed him. Later…”

Lin Suyang frowned. "What happened next?"

Shen Xiao thought for a moment before saying, "Later, I followed him to the Demonic Sect. It turns out that Brother Si Junxing is the elusive leader of the Demonic Sect, Sister Su Yan, you know him, right?" She glanced at Lin Suyang, and seeing that she didn't react, she continued, "That place was very remote, and there were many powerful formations set up outside. If it weren't for Brother Si Junxing leading the way, we probably would never have been able to get in. After we moved into the Demonic Sect, Brother Si Junxing was always outside, as if he had many things to deal with within the sect."

Not long after, we heard that the righteous and evil factions were going to have a decisive battle on the Mucuo Plain. Mu Qing and I didn't want to get involved, but Mu Qing said that we were friends and couldn't stand idly by. Kong Ling, on the other hand, couldn't make a decision because her father was the leader of the righteous faction, so she had no choice but to watch the battle.

The battle was fierce; many died on both sides. We were about to win, but that old scoundrel Kong Mingqi took advantage of Brother Si Junxing's momentary lapse in attention and used despicable means to knock him off the cliff.

At this point, she glanced at Lin Suyang's expression again. Seeing that she still didn't respond, she blinked in confusion and pouted, "Brother Muqing and I led a lot of people down to search. We searched almost the entire bottom of the cliff before finally finding him in the deep pool below. He was unconscious at the time, so we had to hurriedly bring him back to Guigan Mountain to ask our master to save him. Our master said that it was fortunate we returned in time, otherwise he probably wouldn't have survived much longer. Our master also said..."

"What else is there to say?" Lin Suyang asked calmly.

"She also said that Brother Si Junxing's health is very poor, he has a chronic illness, and I'm afraid... I'm afraid he will never be cured..." Shen Xiao said cautiously, glancing at Lin Suyang from time to time. Lin Suyang's expression remained the same as before, and she couldn't help but wonder in her heart, "Doesn't Sister Suyan care about her brother?"

"After Brother Si Junxing woke up, he lost his sight. Master saw that he had good aptitude and wanted to take him as his disciple, but he insisted on coming to Yanliao to find you, saying that you were waiting for him. Master couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he let him go down the mountain and asked Brother Muqing and me to escort him."

"When we arrived in Yanliao, he wouldn't tell us where you were. He only said you were at a friend's place recovering from your injuries. After a few days, a carriage came to pick you up. We were worried and wanted to go with him, but he wouldn't let us. So we had no choice but to wait."

Volume Two, Fallen Dust, Chapter Fifty-Three: The Peach Blossoms in Full Bloom (Part Two)

"After waiting for many more days, Brother Si Junxing was carried back by some people. Brother Mu Qing took his pulse and discovered that he had lost all his martial arts skills..." Shen Xiao couldn't continue speaking and suddenly grabbed Lin Suyang's hand and shook it: "Sister Suyan, please say something! Brother Si Junxing has done so much for you, but you have never been seen. What kind of injury did you suffer that required him to use all his strength to save you? He was already blind, and now he has no martial arts skills. What is he supposed to do?"

Upon hearing Shen Xiao's words, Lin Suyang's body trembled. She took a few steps back and barely managed to stay upright by leaning against the table behind her.

"Xiao'er, I'll wash myself. You go out and rest," she said weakly to Shen Xiao.

“But…” Shen Xiao was about to say something, but seeing her pale face, he couldn’t scold her anymore and had no choice but to leave.

After Shen Xiao left and closed the door, Lin Suyang slumped to the ground. While Shen Xiao was speaking, she appeared indifferent, but her heart was clenching tightly. Especially when she heard that Si Junxing had been knocked off the cliff, her nerves almost snapped. Later, when she heard that he insisted on coming to find her even after losing his sight, she felt as if she had lost all her strength and could be blown away by the wind.

So, he really had been to the Yanliao Imperial Palace. So, the jade pendant really was left by him. Then the voice she heard while she was unconscious was also his. She never imagined that he would make such a great sacrifice for her, that his affection was so deep. How could Lin Suyang ever repay him?

Si Junxing, Si Junxing, why are you doing this to yourself...?

Large tears slid down Lin Suyang's cheeks and fell to the ground. Lost in her sorrow, she did not notice that delicate and beautiful lotus flowers were gradually blooming on the bluestone ground where her tears had fallen!

Lin Suyang kept her head down, slowly calming herself down. She inexplicably smelled a faint fragrance. She looked up to find it and was immediately stunned by what she saw. At her feet, a small patch of ground was covered with all kinds of flowers, crowded together, forming a lush cluster. Upon closer inspection, these flowers were exactly the same as the lotus flowers that should have grown in the pond. What was even more peculiar was that each flower had nine petals, and the colors ranged from red, yellow, pink, and white, all dazzlingly bright.

Lin Suyang carefully reached out and touched the flower, and it swayed slightly. She picked one and held it up to her eyes. The veins of the stem inside were clearly visible, and the faint fragrance she had just smelled was also coming from these flowers. So, these flowers are real!

Lin Suyang couldn't believe what she was seeing. Just as she was about to tear open the flower in her hand to see what was going on, a sharp scream suddenly rang out from outside. Thinking something had happened, she quickly clutched the flower in her hand, opened the door, and ran out.

"What..." Lin Suyang stood at the door, seeing Shen Xiao standing in the yard. He was about to ask when he was startled. The peach tree in the yard, which had been almost dead, was now covered in pink peach blossoms. From the branches to the top, clusters of blossoms swayed gently in the hot summer breeze.

"What...what's going on?" Shen Xiao asked, her voice trembling. Such a bizarre sight. No one had ever seen anything like it before. So no one could answer her.

Yan Muqing stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly at the peach blossoms covering the tree. Si Junxing, unable to see, was unaware of what was amiss. Lin Suyang looked down at the still-radiant little lotus lying in her hand, filled with doubt. These two events could very well have occurred simultaneously. There must be some connection between them.

They stood silently for a long time before quietly returning to the house and sitting around the table.

"A deity! It must be a deity who brought this withered tree back to life." Shen Xiao propped his head up with his hand, turned to the side, and stared unblinkingly at the door.

Lin Suyang didn't believe in ghosts or gods, so he didn't think this was the work of "immortals." The nearly dead peach tree blooming out of season might be due to some influence. But what about those lotus flowers on the kitchen floor? That's real bluestone! For them to bloom on that... this world is either upside down or insane.

She glanced at Yan Muqing, cleared her throat, and said, "You...you can go check the kitchen again." The others looked at her, puzzled. Shen Xiao froze for a moment, then rushed to the kitchen. Soon after, she heard Shen Xiao scream again, and then saw her running in frantically: "Oh no! It's a ghost! Flowers are blooming on the kitchen floor!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Muqing got up and went to take a look as well. Then, he walked back in disbelief: "Amazing! Strange! An unusual phenomenon has appeared in the sky. Could something big be about to happen?"

Si Junxing already knew what had happened from Shen Xiao's words, but he remained silent, only glancing occasionally in Lin Suyang's direction, his hands clenched into fists, as if he was trying his best to endure something.

Yan Muqing and Shen Xiao discussed it for a while and decided to immediately return to the mountain to tell their master about this matter and see what he would say. Perhaps this was a sign of great change in the world. As people of the martial world, they should do something for the powerless common people. If that were the case, wouldn't it be better to let everyone prepare as soon as possible? The two were secretly pleased with their plan. With Lin Suyang taking care of Si Junxing here, they felt much more at ease. However, before leaving, Yan Muqing, carrying Si Junxing on his back, said to Lin Suyang, "Take good care of him."

Lin Suyang said very softly and solemnly, "I will."

After Shen Xiao and the others left, it was already dark. Lin Suyang locked the courtyard gate and returned to the house. Seeing Si Junxing still sitting there, she couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you resting?"

She closed the door and turned to make the bed: "You sleep on the bed tonight, I'll sleep on the floor, and we'll buy a tatami mat tomorrow..." Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled back by someone, lost her balance, and fell into that person's arms.

"If you don't want to stay here, you should leave." A low voice sounded from behind, carrying a deep sadness.

Lin Suyang stopped holding the blanket, put it down, and asked softly, "Why did you say that?"

Si Junxing was silent for a while before saying, "Why are you sad today? Is it because you feel guilty because of me, or because you had no choice but to stay? If so, I would rather you leave me and go find your happiness. Everything I did was voluntary, so I don't need your repayment, I never have."

"How did you know I was sad today?" There was no one in the kitchen at the time, and even when I cried, I never made a sound. How did he know?

Si Junxing released her. "The lotus in the kitchen and the peach tree outside the door regenerating are not miracles. It's all because of you."

"What? Because of me?" Lin Suyang exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes,” Si Junxing nodded. “The injury you suffered is called the Fire Nether Palm. To cure the Fire Nether Palm, you need the unique Nine Lotus Ice. Many people know the legend of the Nine Lotus Ice. It is formed from the first snowflake that falls from the top of Tianfeng Peak. Moreover, it can withstand the first rays of the sun on the floating ice of Tianchi Lake without melting, and it cannot dissolve in the icy rain. No one has ever witnessed its growth. The only two complete Nine Lotus Ice crystals in the world have been passed down through the Kong family for generations. However, one of them disappeared without a trace a hundred years ago, and now only the last one remains. People think its magic is just a legend, but little do they know that it is true that it can bring the dead back to life and cure all diseases.”

"At first, I thought Jiu Lianbing was in the Kong family, so I tried every means to sneak in. Later, Han Yufeng told me that Jiu Lianbing was not there, but in the Yan Liao imperial palace."

"Later, the Nine Lotus Ice melted into your body, and its extraordinary energy also transferred to you. The longer it lasts, the greater the effect will be. From now on, whenever you feel sad or desperate, any place within a ten-mile radius where flowers can bloom will be covered in flowers."

“So you guessed me…” Lin Suyang looked at Si Junxing.

Si Junxing turned his face to the side, leaving her with a shadow.

Lin Suyang couldn't help but laugh when she saw him like this. Si Junxing remained silent, sullen. Lin Suyang reached out and cupped his face, looking into his dull, gray eyes, and said, "Who said I stayed to repay you? I cried because you were so foolish, I'm sad because you did so much for me and I not only knew nothing but also had to learn from others. How can I remain calm after accepting what you've given me like this?"

"Really?" Si Junxing pulled down her hand.

"If you say it's fake, then it's fake."

Si Junxing laughed. "I believe you."

"By the way, how do you know so much about Nine Lotus Ice? Isn't it supposed to be a legend? There shouldn't be any evidence to support it."

Si Junxing relaxed and resumed his usual shamelessness, grinning as he moved closer to Lin Suyang, inhaling her scent deeply. "You already know I'm the leader of the Demonic Sect, right? I've read all the sect's books several times, and I learned all this from them. The missing Nine Lotus Ice was actually stolen by the Demonic Sect leader a hundred years ago to save his beloved. The subsequent events are very similar to today, so I guessed that the Nine Lotus Ice within you was starting to take effect."

Lin Suyang pushed his face away and said, "I know, no one is more studious than you. It's getting late, go to sleep."

She turned to find a blanket to spread on the floor, but Si Junxing stopped her. "The floor is cold," Lin Suyang said, looking at him.

"Do you trust me?" Si Junxing asked.

"letter."

Volume Two, Fallen Dust, Chapter Fifty-Four: Swallows Flying in Pairs (Part 1)

"What are you doing?" Si Junxing asked the person inside, leaning against the door frame.

Lin Suyang really didn't understand why he could always know his direction accurately and never miss it. Sometimes she even wondered if his blindness was fake.

"I'm writing poetry." Lin Suyang picked up the poem he had just finished and placed it outside the sunlit window to let the ink dry.

"What poem is it? Read it to me."

After the ink dried, Lin Suyang retrieved the paper and placed it on the table. She then lowered her lips and softly began to read:

Smoke rises from the chimneys of mountain homes along the paths, and green awnings and bamboo tents adorn the windows of the houses.

Summer flowers have faded into autumn three years ago; I ask when you will return, but I fear it will be a different story.

If you are as firm as a rock and I am as weak as a reed, we are hopeless and our tears fall in vain.

The intertwined branches, unaware of the playful mandarin ducks, laugh as they watch the birds fly in pairs.

"If you are a rock and I am a reed, we are hopeless and our tears fall in vain..." Si Junxing repeated softly.

"The wife waited bitterly for her husband for three whole years, but she still ended up watching the mandarin ducks alone. The most bitter and painful thing in this world is that two hearts are bound together but cannot meet. Why is life always full of twists and turns?" Lin Suyang looked at the peach tree outside with a dazed expression.

"If life has no ups and downs, how can one learn to cherish things? In this world, the most painful thing is when fate ends but love remains unresolved, and the most cruel thing is when fate remains but love has ended. This poem is good, but it's too sorrowful. I don't like it." Si Jun walked over, put his arm around her waist from behind, and gently rested his head on her shoulder.

“We won’t be separated like the people inside. Never. Or, shall I recite a poem too?”

"You...can you?" Lin Suyang chuckled.

"Don't underestimate me. I've read a lot of books, after all. Listen."

A gentle breeze lightly paints a beautiful face.

The winding path is shady and the rain is falling.

The road is filled with flowers on the third day of the third month.