Idle flowers and shadows

Chapter 14

But Su Xianhua only thought about it and had no intention of solving the problem. She ate and slept, slept and ate, anxious to get on her way, hoping to meet up with Hao Laosan and Huai Laosi as soon as possible and go to Yanmo City together to find out Qin Shao's whereabouts.

She had a pleasant conversation with Zhong Zhan and Miao Ruotan along the way, which eased her anxiety somewhat. However, there were two things that still made her feel quite uncomfortable.

The first thing was that Zhong Zhan insisted she ride in a carriage instead of on horseback. When she asked why, he always smiled and said it was because Hua Hua was too pretty and shouldn't be too flashy. Who would believe him! Since leaving Fei Hua Xiao Zhu, she hadn't had the leisure to wash her face, draw her eyebrows, or apply rouge repeatedly. Although she was hesitant to wear colors like turquoise or beeswax anymore, she wasn't so stunning that she needed to hide. How could a carriage compare to riding a horse? That was for noble ladies; she, a commoner, wasn't so precious. Fortunately, Zhong Zhan didn't force her. If she refused, so be it, but occasionally, when she got tired of riding, he would gently remind her, "Hua Hua, why don't you ride in the carriage?"

There was another thing that particularly bothered her. Actually, it was also related to Lady Ji, and it was her hair.

Zhong Zhan woke up earlier than her every day, and after she finished washing up, he would style her hair. On the first day of their journey, when he stopped her at the gate with her hair haphazardly tied up, this became his daily ritual. She found it strange; even Qin Shao had only changed her diapers when she was an infant, and even he himself refused to admit doing such a maid's task after she grew a little older. But Zhong Zhan did it with great pleasure. His fingers were nimble, never hurting her, and his hairstyle was neat and beautiful, just like Lady Ji's. Because of this, when she rode on horseback, a few men on the street would indeed turn to look at her, which she naturally assumed was due to Zhong Zhan's superior skill.

She was terrified and covered her head, asking him why. He replied helplessly that he couldn't stand walking with unclean people.

Su Xianhua immediately felt incredibly sorry for him and could only let him handle her with trepidation. But then she thought it might be a lie, because Young Master Miao wasn't necessarily that neat. She wanted to say it aloud as evidence, but in the end, she didn't, because she gradually realized that she really liked how she looked in the mirror after she had combed her hair.

A thousand knots in my heart, no one knows (2)

The first day was frightening, the second day was awkward, the third day was uneasy, and by the fourth day, it became a matter of acceptance, and then it almost became a habit.

She was very grateful to Zhong Zhan for this, because he did something she had always longed to do but no one would do for her. One day, she sighed to him with emotion, "Zhong Zhan, I feel like you are my mother. If I can still get married in the future, it will definitely be thanks to you."

After saying this, Su Xianhua felt a sharp pain in her scalp and couldn't help but let out a soft cry. He slowly released the comb, a few strands of long, black hair falling from the wooden teeth, and smiled apologetically, "Sorry, I used too much force..."

Five days passed peacefully. On the sixth day, they arrived at Fengqi, a small town not far from Biluo Valley.

The name "Feng Qi" is quite nice, and I've heard it has some kind of story behind it, but Su Xianhua isn't very interested. She just wants to find a small shop to grab a bite to eat. The three of them had barely found a place to sit down when she lowered her voice and said, "Don't you guys find this strange?"

Miao Ruotan hadn't eaten all day, and as soon as she sat down, she ordered a plate of beef and started eating it all, ignoring her. Zhong Zhan glanced at her, then looked around, and nodded slightly: "It is indeed a bit strange. Is someone following us?"

She raised an eyebrow: "You noticed it too?"

Zhong Zhan calmly took a sip of tea: "Hua Hua, why don't you take the carriage instead of riding a horse?"

"I told you I don't ride in cars! I don't! I'm not some delicate young lady!"

Zhong Zhan said, "You are clearly a young woman."

She was furious: "Who says a young lady has to ride in a carriage? A young lady can ride a horse too. I'm not going to argue with you about this. I just want to know who's following us, and if I could find out, it would be you or me!"

Zhong Zhan thought about it seriously for a moment and said, "They should follow you. I'm not famous, so no one will follow me."

"I'm not very famous either."

“You have.” He smiled gently, his gaze softening as he looked at her face. “Don’t forget, someone once gave you a big moment of recognition in front of countless important people.”

Su Xianhua thought about it and realized that there was indeed such a thing, and immediately felt deflated. But the next moment she asked in confusion, "Didn't you miss it that day? How did you know about this?"

Zhong Zhan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Such a big matter, there probably aren't many people in the martial arts world who don't know about it."

As they were talking, a commotion of horses came from outside the inn. It seemed that several horses had stopped at the entrance. Laughter and conversation drifted inside, and Su Xianhua's face immediately darkened.

It's been a few days since we last met, and it seems we've run into each other again.

Who else could it be but Situ Wuyu, whose voice was as clear and delicate as a silver bell?

She kept a straight face and didn't speak, while Zhong Zhan remained smiling, seemingly unaware of the noise outside. Only Miao Ruotan glanced outside, her lips curling into a dismissive smile.

Soon, a large group of people entered the room.

This time, besides the Situ sisters and Bai Nianchen, several young men and women were also present, all dressed in fine clothes and headdresses, radiant with beauty. A young man in purple robes accompanying Situ Wuyu was particularly tall and elegant, with striking good looks and captivating peach blossom eyes. Upon entering, he looked around, his gaze finally settling on Su Xianhua in the corner. Su Xianhua, who had been drinking tea with her head down, felt someone watching her. When she looked up, the man's gaze had shifted, and he was smiling as he spoke to Situ Wuyu beside him. She didn't know what he said, but the second young lady immediately smiled like a dew-kissed peony, completely devoid of the fierceness she displayed when arguing with Miao Ruotan at the market.

“That’s one of the Five Young Masters, Young Master Xiao Xueyin from the Xue Liu family of Luzhou,” Zhong Zhan said softly as he refilled her tea.

Su Xianhua hummed in agreement, indicating her disinterest. Just as she was about to lower her head to continue drinking her tea, a piercing gaze shot towards her from the side. Her eye twitched, and she immediately glared back fiercely. What did this Bai guy mean? His gaze was so sarcastic and strange, a complete change from before!

But what about the past? Looking back now, there was more of a nonchalant air in his eyes, because he had never truly focused on her, hence his indifference, as detached as the wind. (txt ebook sharing platform, S)

A thousand knots in my heart, no one knows (3)

And she actually thought that look was gentle...

A fire ignited within her, and she was so engrossed in a silent battle of wits with Bai Nianchen that she failed to notice the deep, dark glint in Zhong Zhan's smiling eyes, which gradually masked his amusement. He raised his hand, clenched his fist, and coughed lightly, his voice barely audible, yet it seemed only Situ Diyin beside Bai Nianchen heard it. Her gaze shifted from her sister and the young master Xiao, and in the blink of an eye, she saw Su Xianhua.

Miss Situ's eyes turned cold instantly, but she walked over with a smile on her face, one hand still on Bai Nianchen's arm.

"Isn't this Miss Su? It's been so long, I almost didn't recognize her."

Su Xianhua hummed again, replying perfunctorily, "Sure."

Situ Diyin's smile grew even sweeter and more charming: "Miss Su is truly a genius. Knowing that Nianchen would pass by here, she came here to wait for him. I admire her for her thoughtfulness."

Is this someone deliberately trying to cause trouble? Su Xianhua frowned, her hand resting on her knee twitching, but Zhong Zhan immediately grasped it. He slowly smiled and said, "We came here following the guidance of the Sword Saint's poem, but we didn't expect to run into an old friend so soon. I should be the one who admires you."

When he smiled, small dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth, making him look particularly kind and handsome. Situ Diyin was taken aback for a moment, and only after turning around did she realize the sarcasm behind his words. He was seriously underestimating her. She knew he was helping Su Xianhua, but she couldn't confront him because of her pride. She could only glare at Bai Nianchen fiercely.

Bai Nianchen, however, kept his lips pursed and his brows slightly furrowed, ignoring her gaze. He turned his eyes away and stared at a corner of the shop, his face expressionless.

The small commotion immediately attracted the attention of others. Situ Wuyu, who was talking to Xiao Xueyin, glanced over and immediately hopped over like a little rabbit. She pushed through the crowd, her eyes sweeping over Su Xianhua and Miao Ruotan with resentment, but when she looked at Zhong Zhan, her eyes were filled with surprise.

Before she could speak, Zhong Zhan's hand was already halfway out of the table, waving slightly. Su Xianhua looked over from the side and saw his bright, sparkling eyes, his smile deepening, almost bewitching. She had never seen him with such an expression before. She felt that his behavior could be classified as seduction, because Situ Wuyu, sitting opposite him, had already blushed and was speechless, only able to bite her lip and slowly nod.

Sister Situ asked in confusion, "Wuyu, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing." Situ's younger sister blushed and spoke in a low voice, tugging at her older sister's sleeve. "Sister, let's not bother others. We've been traveling for so long, everyone must be tired. Let's rest first."

After saying that, she looked back one last time with reluctance before pulling her sister away.

The group of young elites found a private room. Through the screen, Su Xianhua could see them clearly. She didn't know what they were talking about, but they kept turning their heads to look over. Among them was Xiao Xueyin, with her captivating eyes and alluring charm.

Su Xianhua frowned, and Zhong Zhan said softly, "Let's go."

He always seemed to know what she was thinking.

He has always been thinking of her.

She knew this couldn't continue; even she, in her carefree nature, knew he was good to her. But she didn't want to pry into his background or identity. It wasn't that she wasn't curious, but she vaguely felt that asking would change many things. Relationships between people are so fragile; the slightest transgression can destroy them.

She thought, he probably didn't want others to know who he was either, otherwise he wouldn't have told Situ Wuyu to keep it a secret.

He was simply himself—Zhong Zhan, who would get up early to comb her hair; Zhong Zhan, always smiling and seemingly never angry; a friend he met by chance. Next, he was going to Biluo Valley, and she was going to find Qin Shao. To part ways smoothly and without any lingering attachments—that was true chance encounter, and it couldn't be better.

There were some things she no longer believed in, and because of that disbelief, she became timid. Nothing was more powerful evidence than the sudden loss of over a decade of trust and waiting; no one was obligated to cling to anyone else. The world was still bright and sunny, and she felt that life would be fine like this forever. (B eBook sharing website)

A thousand knots in my heart, no one knows (4)

So being a little timid is a good thing.

two

Bai Nianchen and his group arrived in Fengqi Town, indeed because they had deciphered the Sword Saint's poem. Amidst the enthusiastic discussion, the three pretended not to know anything.

After dinner, Su Xianhua practiced her martial arts in her room without making a sound. An hour later, she got up and blew out the candles, then continued practicing. Half an hour later, she opened the door and found that the room opposite Qin Shao and Miao Ruotan was completely dark. If she listened carefully, she could not even hear their breathing.

She knew no one was inside. They weren't there three out of five nights, but she didn't think about why, nor did she want to know. Since she had only intended to be a casual acquaintance, it was better to be honest and respectful.

Therefore, you shouldn't remember that drunken escapade, or his usual gentle smile, or the warmth of his fingers lightly touching her silk every morning.

Thinking of this, she felt a little sad, but quickly comforted herself that as the leader of a stronghold, she couldn't let personal feelings distract her from her heroic spirit. Looking at the moonlight streaming through the window, unable to sleep, she picked up a cloak and went for a walk.

Someone is playing the flute under the moonlight.

It was her favorite piece, "Jiang Yue Yin." It was a piece based on a legend, telling the story of the founding emperor of Xie Yu and his childhood sweetheart who fought together to conquer the land, ultimately dying in the emperor's arms from exhaustion. When Qin Shao first told her this story, the ten-year-old Miss Hua cried until her sleeves were soaked.

Qin Shao played the zither; he disliked playing the flute, finding its sound too melancholic. Su Xianhua, however, felt that such a poignant ending was best expressed through the sound of the flute. Looking back now, it's possible she was blinded by appearances and couldn't accurately judge whether she liked the flute's sound or the person playing it.

She slowly walked to the stream behind the inn, where a long wooden walkway connected to a stone bridge. Someone was sitting at the bridgehead playing a flute, dressed in white, with hair as black as ink.

She had initially thought that there was someone else in the world who could play the flute as well as him. But she discovered that he was the only one in the world who could play it so well.

It's so frustrating. Even though I've decided to forget everything about him, I'm still drawn to his flute playing. It makes me want to stab myself in the back.

She stood there, recalling the moments she had spent listening to music in the past, and was momentarily stunned. It wasn't until she saw Bai Nianchen turn around that she snapped back to reality and instinctively turned and left.

The flute music stopped abruptly, and a cold, emotionless voice came from behind: "Stop."

She stopped, but didn't turn around. Her hands were clenched tightly, and she snorted, "What does Young Master Bai mean by this?"

Bai Nianchen's footsteps were light, but she could tell he was walking towards her. His tone was cold but tinged with sarcasm: "Waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump."

"You!" Is this what you call walking right into a trap?

“You’ve loved listening to ‘Jiang Yue Yin’ since you were little, and you would appear whenever I played it. I didn’t expect this method to still work.” Bai Nianchen raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, not sharp, but rather mischievous. “You really haven’t improved at all.”

Yes, I haven't improved at all, I'm no match for you, Young Master Bai! She cursed the timeless classic "Jiang Yue Yin" a thousand times in her heart, listing it as the most unpopular song before turning around with her hands in her sleeves and saying fiercely, "In the middle of the night, are you pretending to be a ghost to scare people?! Speak quickly if you have something to say."

His expression turned cold again, and he said, "You owe me an explanation."

An explanation? He must be mistaken. Su Xianhua almost threw that sentence back verbatim, but thankfully stopped herself in time. Those who have abandoned me, yesterday's days cannot be retained. At a time like this, to still be dwelling on the past is truly a sign of stagnation.

She gave a slight smirk: "How about it?"

“Su Xianhua, you said you wouldn’t interfere in the Sword Saint’s affairs.”

“I didn’t get involved.”

"Then what do you mean by coming here? And what do you mean by deciphering the Sword Saint's poem? I actually believed you that day." His tone was tinged with anger. This usually calm and aloof man couldn't control his emotions when he was around this woman; it was truly a test of his composure.

A thousand knots in my heart, no one knows (5)

"I came here by chance with my friends, and it was they, not me, who solved the riddle in the poem."

"I shouldn't have explained. I should just let him get away with it!" She couldn't help but sneer inwardly. All he cared about was the Sword Saint's peerless sword manual, and he thought everyone was trying to make things difficult for him. What was he thinking? She didn't have the energy to set traps for him; she had more important things to do. But at this moment, she was too lazy to explain. Believe it or not, the truth will out.

He raised an eyebrow, a cold laugh masking his suppressed anger: "Friends? Those two men of unknown origin? I never knew you had this trick up your sleeve, hooking up with them so quickly..."

"You, surnamed Bai, shut up!" she couldn't help but shout. "Don't drag others into our feud. You're not allowed to insult my friend!"

Bai Nianchen's face was ashen, but he pursed his lips and remained silent, probably feeling that saying such things was unbecoming of a great man and a miscalculation.

"I'll tell you again, I have absolutely no interest in the Sword Saint! If you keep haunting me, I'll be ruthless next time. I'm not like you; I don't care about any damn reputation. At worst, I'll even forfeit the little bit of friendship between Black Wind Stronghold and Jade Unicorn Manor!" She gritted her teeth, uttered a harsh remark, and turned to leave.

Hearing him grit his teeth and say, "It had to be that way!"

As Su Xianhua walked, she recalled the time when they secretly rode horses together as children but got lost in the woods. Back then, she was just a little kid, and the young master Xiaobai solemnly told her, who was half asleep, "Xiaohua, you go to sleep first. I'll come and get you when I find my way home!" Later, he really did come to get her, by which time she had already been sleeping comfortably in the woods for most of the night.

How come as people grow up, their hearts also grow bigger, and even the initial trust disappears? She felt a little sore, rubbed her cheeks hard, and walked forward quickly.

After walking a few steps, a faint sound suddenly rang out in the air.

That was the sound of a hidden weapon piercing the air.

She paused, and several silver glints flashed in the darkness before her. She tapped the wall to the side with her toes, and leaped into the air. She reached for the knife on her back, but found nothing. Only then did she realize that she had come out for a walk in the middle of the night and left the knife in her room.