Cuando el amor se acerca, es como la nieve

Capítulo 54

I slowly raised my head, my voice trembling: "I...I think! Master, I didn't know it, but I love him so much, so deeply! I didn't know, I really didn't know! -- Ever since he left, I think of him in everything I do, in my dreams, while walking, and even when I have nothing to do, I think of him while looking at the clouds! Why did he leave me? Didn't he miss me? Didn't he love me? Master, I just want to find him, hold him, and ask him why he left? Why did he leave?...Does he know, does he know? I think about the days we spent together all the time..." My voice trailed off, and I lowered my head. My eyebrows trembled, but not a single tear fell from my eyes.

Master Feng slowly approached, gently stroking my hair, and sighed, "Alas... Silly Yi'er, silly Yi'er... I'm not senile, how could I not know your thoughts? You've fallen in love with this wanderer! You think of him constantly, remember him constantly, simply because you like him, you've fallen in love with him, that you hold him in your heart so dearly, that you worry about him so much. Child, you are exceptionally intelligent, yet you only now realize the depth of your heart?" Master Feng held my shoulder, pointed out of the valley, and said loudly, "Go! How can this secluded Plum Valley be a place for you to stay? Since you love him, you must go find him, seize that wandering wanderer, and let this man like the wind stay by your side, together forever! Heaven ordained that lovers should be together!"

"Master—Master!" I looked up at Master Feng, this legendary master from thirty years ago, a man among men. At this moment, a strange, awe-inspiring light shone in his eyes! This made the nearly sixty-year-old man before me seem like a completely different person. Every bone in his body, every hair, seemed to radiate youthful energy. I even had the illusion that my master, whom I had only studied under for less than three months, had returned to the elegant, unrestrained, and extraordinary figure he was back then—one of the Three Masters of Plum Valley—

"The word 'love'...the word 'love'..." Master Feng murmured to himself, his eyes reflecting a look that was hard to tell whether it was contemplation or melancholy. He stood before the cliff, his gaze fixed on something unknown. The mountain wind whipped at him, ruffling his spotless white robes, making this handsome man, who seemed like an immortal, appear otherworldly. His clothes fluttered as if he were about to drift away with the wind. Even though he was past middle age, the elegant demeanor he exuded was unmatched by extraordinary men like Shang Shaochang, Ye Zhiqiu, Su Sanshou, and Prince Ning. Yet, there always seemed to be a faint trace of sorrow in his eyes, a sorrow that was always there, yet impossible to shake off.

Could it be that Master also had a passionate love affair? Could it be that this passionate love affair was something Master could never forget?

Master Feng suddenly looked up and laughed, "By the way, my good disciple is about to go down the mountain. Your master can't be without a treasure for you. So, if you stay in the valley for three more days, I will give you my beloved Ju Xue!"

"Ah—" I let out a soft cry, and exclaimed in surprise, "What? Master, how can I use such a famous instrument? I am now completely powerless. In the past few months, the only thing I have learned that is relatively well is the zither. I don't know any martial arts. How can I use Ju Xue?!"

Master Feng laughed heartily and said, "Martial arts and musical skills are inherently interconnected. The way to learn art lies in cultivating the mind. You are my only beloved disciple. If I don't give you Ju Xue, do you expect me to take you to my coffin?"

A surge of warmth welled up within me, followed by a feeling of shame. When I first came to this Qiongxie Cave with Shang Shaochang, I had no intention of truly becoming a disciple. Of the months I spent learning from Master Feng, thirty percent was dedicated to diligent practice, while the remaining seventy percent was probably mostly for fun. But Master Feng has been incredibly kind to me, not only taking meticulous care of me but also patiently explaining and teaching. He was genuinely happy to accept me, a disciple with "high aptitude," from the bottom of his heart. And now, he's actually going to give "Ju Xue" to someone as utterly incompetent as me! How could I not be both moved and surprised? I stammered, "Master… I'm afraid… I'm afraid I'll disappoint you…"

Master Feng shook his head and smiled kindly, "Your master is not old yet. I know better than anyone who can inherit my Ju Xue. You don't need to say anything more, just come with me." After saying that, he turned and walked into the valley.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Famous Sword Ju Xue

Under the dim oil lamp, Mr. Feng's slender fingers carefully parted the lid of the box. I stood beside him, filled with immense curiosity. Last time, when Mr. Feng and Young Master Shang wielded the Ju Xue and Autumn Water respectively, I had only seen a flash of light and hadn't truly seen what this legendary blade looked like. As the satin-covered box lid was slowly lifted, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah—!" Staring in disbelief at the contents of the box, I simply couldn't believe my eyes—

It wasn't out of shock, nor was it unusual. It was simply because in the box that Master Feng treasured so dearly lay an object that was neither sword nor knife, nor even resembled anything at all! Master Feng reached into the box, grasped the object by its base, and lifted it out. Under the oil lamplight, it was neither cast from metal nor carved from wood or stone. Faintly glowing in the light, it exuded an unusually ancient aura. Though its entire surface was dull and lacked luster, its spine was covered with dense, fine lines, as if it would crack at the slightest touch. It looked like an oval jade slab, with only slight indentations on either side of the handle for a comfortable grip. It resembled everything, yet it resembled nothing at all; but if you said it was a sword, probably ten out of ten people wouldn't believe you!

Seeing me staring wide-eyed at the "sword," Mr. Feng waved and laughed, "How can you see it clearly from this far away? Come on, come over and touch it!"

I reached out my finger and carefully touched the "sword blade," exclaiming in surprise, "This—this is jade!" The surface felt smooth and delicate to the touch, and a cool sensation ran up my fingers. Master Feng flipped his hands over and placed "Ju Xue" in mine. My hand involuntarily sank downwards; this small jade sword, less than a foot long, was unexpectedly heavy! I almost dropped it.

Master Feng chuckled softly, accepting the jade sword. His long, slender, white fingers slowly traced its blade. This object, seemingly neither sword nor jade, appeared utterly unremarkable; had I not touched it, one would never have guessed it was made entirely of jade. "Ju Xue… Ju Xue…" Master Feng murmured, as if calling to his beloved. Where his fingertips touched, the seemingly insignificant Ju Xue began to gleam with a cool, dazzling light! The light grew brighter, and upon closer inspection, wisps of cold air seemed to flow within the sword, as if responding to Master Feng's caress. This seemingly ordinary jade sword, at this moment, was like a veiled beauty, suddenly revealing her exquisite and elegant beauty the instant her veil was lifted! The jade sword's light flickered, as if the entire sword were enveloped in white snow.

"Kunlun white snow, the sword is as smooth as jade; a gentleman of noble character, so elegant and refined... The three most famous weapons in the world are the Autumn Water Blade, the Ju Xue Sword, and the Returning Wind Veil. The Autumn Water Blade has always been by Shang Shaochang's side; the Returning Wind Veil is now in the hands of Chu Guanfeng, one of the four gentle assassins; and in my hand is the Ju Xue Sword, which is as famous as these two weapons... Ju Xue, Ju Xue, you have been living in seclusion in my hands for so long, but you have been wronged..." Master Feng turned around and smiled at me, "From now on, this Ju Xue will be with you."

I stared blankly at Master Feng's smile, and said in bewilderment, "Master... I... how could I have learned the world-renowned Ju Xue technique in just three days... I..." But Master Feng slowly shook his head and said, "Yi'er, do you believe that all things have a spirit?"

I said, "Spirituality?..."

Master Feng said, “Look at this Plum Valley, the green plum blossoms bloom in the snow, don’t they possess a slow, vibrant life force? When you walk through the plum grove, don’t you feel the plum blossoms breathing quietly with you? When you play my Jiao Wei Qin, don’t you feel the strings between your fingers trembling gently with your fingertips? This is because you have sensed the spirit within these things. If you can do this, even if you know nothing about martial arts, the famous sword Ju Xue will be resurrected in your hands!” Master Feng looked at me and solemnly said, “Therefore, I have chosen you, believing that you can become one with Ju Xue and find its spirit! In these three days, I only need to help you become familiar with this famous sword—” Master Feng grasped my shoulder and said in a deep voice, “I also believe that you are the successor chosen by me, Master Feng, and you will not disappoint me!”

"Master..." I gritted my teeth and slowly said, "I...I'm leaving..."

Mr. Feng nodded and smiled, saying, "Alright, you may leave now."

I opened my mouth, hesitated several times before finally saying, "Master, you...you must take good care of yourself..."

Master Feng laughed heartily and patted my head: "Little child! Your master is not old yet, how can you not take good care of yourself?"

I nodded gently, but didn't know what to say. Master Feng saw me out of Plum Valley. If we kept walking, we would reach the bustling market. But now that I was leaving, I didn't know when I would see this master again! Master Feng treated me like a teacher and a father. If it weren't for finding Young Master Shang, whom I was so worried about, I really wouldn't want to leave him.

After laughing, Master Feng said solemnly, "Yi'er, I'll tell you one last thing." Seeing his extremely serious expression, I quickly nodded. Master Feng said, word by word, "What I want to tell you is that unless your life is in danger, you must never use 'Ju Xue'! Only when you can freely wield this sword can you truly use it as a weapon!" Master Feng sighed softly, looking at my bewildered eyes, and slowly said, "Child, you are indeed incredibly clever, but how can you possibly control this turbulent world of martial arts? From now on, you will be in contact with Shang Shaochang's life, and you will understand that he lives in a world completely different from yours..."

I solemnly replied, "Yes, Master, I have remembered everything you said."

Master Feng nodded slightly, smiling kindly. "Good, good disciple. Keep this Jiao Wei Qin with you; it may come in handy... Have you memorized all sixty-four variations of the qin I taught you?"

I nodded and said, "I've memorized it all, but I'm not very proficient yet. I'll need to practice more in the future."

Mr. Feng sighed and said, "Alright, it's getting late, you... you should go now!"

I said, "Master, I...I'm leaving now..." I gritted my teeth, picked up the small bundle containing the Jiao Wei Qin and Ju Xue, turned around and walked towards the main road, never looking back.

Behind him, a long sigh came from Mr. Feng.

I stood at the entrance of the town, carrying a small, long bundle on my back containing a few meager clothes, some silver notes and loose change, and the Jiao Wei Qin (a type of zither) and Ju Xue Sword that Master Feng had given me.

Is this the very world those wanderers speak of and dream of? Is this the world of martial arts that Young Master Shang envisions? The world that has made him brave fire and water; the world where he experiences the thrill of bloodshed and the joy of revenge; the world where he can speak with composure and ride a horse with unwavering resolve?

The residents of the small town in front of me walked around in twos and threes, buying and selling, walking, or chatting and laughing. Every word they spoke revealed their longing for and contentment with life.

What's wrong with such a simple and peaceful life? Why did I have to step into the so-called "jianghu" (江湖, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry)? Now, am I considered a "jianghu person"?

I straightened my newly bought crimson dress and walked towards a small inn.

I stopped for a bite at this inn, and the waiter led me to a back room. As soon as I opened the wooden door, a slightly damp smell hit my nose. Inside, besides a small wooden bed and tattered thin bedding, there was only a small oil lamp flickering on the table by the window. I frowned and placed my luggage on the bed. The waiter, a somewhat dull-looking young man in his twenties, placed a copper basin draped with an old towel on the table, said, "Please have a meal, madam," and left. I wiped my face with the towel, feeling as if I had walked for a long time. My legs ached terribly, and I didn't want to eat. I collapsed onto the wooden bed, not wanting to move at all.

Alas, it seems that without Shang Shaochang's dark horse, walking on one's own feet is such a painful thing.

I lay with my eyes closed in the tattered bedding, a damp, foul odor assaulting my nostrils and burning my throat. I tugged at my crimson robe, gritting my teeth as I rolled over—a woman dressed in black walking the streets was far too shocking. With Shang Shaochang not by my side, and my meager, low-level skills easily taken by a single gray-clad assassin, I was better off dressed as an ordinary woman to avoid dying a senseless death. So, after being sent down the mountain by Master Feng, I bought a crimson dress and put it on. Although some people kept pointing and whispering about my unbound feet, at least I looked like a genuine Song Dynasty woman.

Young Master Shang, Young Master Shang, are you thinking of me right now? Where are you now?

I groaned and rolled over, feeling an intense ache in every joint of my body. Since arriving in the Song Dynasty, I hadn't actually suffered much hardship. At Guiyun Manor, I only moved around within Jiangzhou City and never ventured far. And since being with Shang Shaochang, I'd never had to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. Although we did live a somewhat rough life, we traveled on horseback, and he would occasionally hunt some game for our meals, so we found life quite enjoyable and interesting. But when he wasn't by my side, I realized that no matter how much wisdom and talent I possessed, even the simplest things like food and lodging had become troublesome and difficult.

...

It seems that women in love are indeed confused and muddle-headed. If you put all your attention on one person, how can you maintain a clear and calm mind?

I tilted my head and watched as a few willow branches gently brushed against the wooden window frame. Before I knew it, the moon was high in the sky, and a full moon shone brightly in the sky.

The moon is so round and beautiful tonight. Shang Shaochang, are you somewhere, watching the bright moon with me?

The moonlight shone on the rising mist, like a thin veil draped over it—so beautiful…

wrong!

It's summer now, and the heat has just begun to set in. How could there be a thin mist that only appears in autumn?

"...Sister Bai, Little Green is telling you, if you find that your surroundings are different from what you are used to, you must swallow this light green pill first..."

A thin, milky-white mist gradually gathered around the small inn, growing thicker and thicker, almost threatening to drift inside! The mist looked breathtakingly beautiful in the night. But in my eyes, this mysterious mist, appearing out of season, was nothing short of a death knell! It was as if an unseen hand was pushing the mist along in the darkness, watching it seep in little by little through the window—