Xuezhi initially blurted out, "None of your business," but seeing Feng Zi's tightly clenched hands trembling slightly and her extremely pale face, she couldn't help but wonder: Why does she hate Shangguan Tou so much? Could it be that Shangguan Tou had played her before?
Thinking of this, Xuezhi told herself to be happy and laugh at Feng Zi. But the real feeling in her heart was an indescribable sadness. She had a urge to rush out and question Shangguan Tou, but Yuan Shuangshuang stopped her once again:
"I knew it! That's why Xiao Xuezhi abandoned our Qingmei. Turns out, she got involved with Young Master Shangguan."
That word "wrap" finally succeeded in enraging Xuezhi. She turned around and said fiercely, "Try insulting me again!"
"Where did I insult you?" Yuan Shuangshuang said with a charming smile. "Everyone knows that none of the women who are with Yipin Cuihua Tou are virgins. You traveled all over the country with him, what else could it be but a slut?"
"He treats me like a younger sister, you can ask him and you'll see!"
Lin Xuanfeng said, "Yuan Shuangshuang, shut up!"
Yuan Shuangshuang seemed not to hear what they were saying: "Chong Xuezhi, Chong Xuezhi, I really underestimated you and treated you like a child. It turns out that you are better at these things than we older women."
Xuezhi pointed at her, her fingers trembling with anger: "You...you try talking nonsense again!"
Lin Xuanfeng rebuked, "Yuan Shuangshuang, I have always respected you, but if you utter another word today, the Xueyan Sect will cease to exist!"
"I was helping you in everything, and you still yelled at me!" Yuan Shuangshuang's tears streamed down her face. "You want to expel the Snow Swallow Sect, right? Then go ahead and do it!"
Lin Xuanfeng ignored her, walked closer to Xuezhi, and whispered, "Xuezhi, although the former sect leader's words were excessive, they were not without reason. For your own reputation, stay away from Shangguan Tou."
Xuezhi's tears were welling up in her eyes. But she couldn't cry in front of so many people.
She turned around and ran out of the main hall of Lingjian Manor without saying a word.
37 38 39
37
She had endured much hardship from childhood, learning martial arts and venturing into the world, but she couldn't even remember the last time she shed tears over something so trivial. She had some scars on her body that most girls shouldn't have, but she rarely felt sorry for herself; instead, she saw them as an achievement. When she was little, she once fell so badly that even Haitang couldn't bear to watch and told her to cry if it hurt, not to hold it in. But Xuezhi never understood why she should cry over such small wounds.
She grew up in the secluded Chonghuo Palace, knowing almost nothing about matters between men and women. She had gained a slight understanding when she first entered the world, but remained in the most innocent stage of a little girl's fantasies, and had never been spoken to like this before. She had never shed tears because of excessive humiliation, but this time, the moment she stepped out of the main hall, she could no longer control herself and cried uncontrollably.
But before they could go out, Lin Xuanfeng and Xia Qingmei had already come out.
"Xuezhi, I'm sorry." Lin Xuanfeng lowered his head slightly. "I promised your second father that I would protect you and Fengzi, but I failed to do anything."
Xuezhi turned her back to them, not even daring to wipe away her tears.
“Yuan Shuangshuang feels sorry for Feng Zi and hopes she will become the most outstanding girl, so it’s somewhat unfair to you.” Lin Xuanfeng sighed deeply. “What will bring you so many difficulties is your identity, but one’s birth cannot be changed. Even so, whether you have the courage to continue depends on you. Your enemy is not anyone else, but yourself and the whole world.”
There was half-melted snow underfoot; once tears seeped in, they could never be found again.
"Uncle, you don't need to say anything. I know you're doing this for my own good."
Lin Xuanfeng added, "I believe you will become very strong, as strong as your great-father, unmatched by anyone."
Xuezhi nodded, still not turning back, and walked straight ahead. But as soon as she reached the main gate of Lingjian Manor, someone caught up with her again.
"Miss Chong."
This time it was Xia Qingmei.
"I know everything, please stop talking."
Xia Qingmei walked around to Xuezhi and looked down at her: "You're not pretty if you cry. Come on, smile."
Xuezhi did not react.
Xia Qingmei handed her a handkerchief: "Feng Zi asked me to give this to you."
Xuezhi glanced at the handkerchief, took it, examined it, and then tossed it on the ground. Xia Qingmei sighed softly, "You really have quite a temper. If you can't stand a few sarcastic remarks from that gossip, that's a real loss for you."
Xuezhi looked up in surprise: "Gossip... Granny?"
"Sigh. Although she likes me a lot, I don't like her. I especially dislike the way she talks to you. Actually, you should be understanding of her. She's not young anymore and isn't married yet—if she were content with her current situation and remained flirtatious like Xue Hong back then, there wouldn't be a problem. But she insists on getting married. The good ones don't want her, and she looks down on the bad ones. What else can she do besides bullying young and pretty girls?"
“She… is Feng Zi’s master.”
"Feng Zi is incredibly unlucky to have met such a master. But thankfully, she wasn't influenced by Yuan Shuangshuang, otherwise it would be such a pity. Don't take her words to heart. In the eyes of a filthy person, even the cleanest things are filthy."
Xuezhi rubbed her eyes, then smiled through her tears: "I never expected Young Master Xia to be so cheerful."
Xia Qingmei cleared her throat again: "I only reacted because I saw you crying. I'm usually very composed." Then she laughed: "Don't be sad. Quickly wipe away your tears. Young Master Shangguan is still waiting for you downstairs, isn't he? It wouldn't be good if he saw you like this."
Xuezhi then realized what was happening and looked down.
Shangguan Tou was still standing halfway up the steps, but with his back to them.
"I really should go now." Xuezhi hurriedly ran downstairs, then turned back with a radiant smile. "Thank you."
Xia Qingmei paused for a moment, then said, "You're welcome. See you again someday."
As soon as Xuezhi stepped down, Shangguan Tou turned around and asked, "Did you agree?"
"Um."
Why are your eyes a little red?
No, no.
"Did that guy at the door make you cry?" Shangguan Tou put on his cloak and hood and immediately went upstairs. "I'll go deal with him."
"No, no, Young Master Xia has come to say goodbye."
Shangguan Tou slowly turned his head, and a few tiny snowflakes landed on his eyelashes:
"Young Master Xia?... He is Xia Qingmei?"
"Um."
"Wait for me, I'll go skin him." Shangguan Tou continued walking upstairs.
Xuezhi quickly grabbed his arm: "Wait, the rumors aren't his fault."
"I know. But if it weren't for him, no one would say such things about you. There's no point in trying to get rid of someone like that; it's better for him to just disappear."
Xuezhi still clung to his arm tightly, pulling him down relentlessly: "I've known you for so long, and this is the first time I've realized you're so stubborn. He's my friend—it's only because we're friends that people talk about him. Actually, he's a very nice person."
Shangguan Tou turned around and stared at Xue Zhi for a long time. Only when he saw that her scalp was tingling did he smile and say, "Whatever Zhi'er says goes. But if anyone bullies you, you must tell me, understand?"
"Yes, Sister Zhaojun!"
Shangguan Tou stared at her without moving once again.
Xuezhi lowered her voice considerably: "Brother Tou..."
"That's more like it." Shangguan Tou patted her hair. "There will be a temple fair here in a couple of days. Would you like to go and see it? Or would you like to go directly to Shaolin Temple?"
“Of course it’s the temple fair!” Xuezhi thought for a moment. “But I didn’t expect that after you shaved your head, you actually became a Buddhist.”
"Silly girl, who said going to a temple fair means burning incense?"
"What are they going to do there?"
"I used to go there for fun, but this time I'm here to keep you company. Let your Sister Hongxiu and Brother Langya go have some fun."
"Looking for fun?"
Shangguan Tou thought for a moment and said, "It's just about finding some fun."
Is that an explanation?
You'll understand later.
Xuezhi still didn't understand.
38
Upon returning to Yingzhou in Immortal Mountain from Lingjian Manor, Xuezhi underwent a sudden change. The first and second floors of Yingzhou were the dining room, while the third and fourth floors were guest rooms. Shangguan Tou and Xuezhi both stayed on the third floor, their rooms separated only by an empty room. Even so, he had been awakened several times the previous night by clanging and banging noises. Strangely, Xuezhi's room remained quiet after they returned until dinnertime. When Shangguan Tou went to her room to call her, he found she wasn't there, so he went downstairs to look for Zhongtao.
Immortal Mountain Yingzhou reopened for business that day, so it was packed with people during mealtimes. Qiu Hongxiu cleared out a private room for them to rest. Shangguan Tou asked Zhong Tao where Xuezhi had gone, and Zhong Tao pointed to the kitchen. Shangguan Tou went to the kitchen with a puzzled look and was surprised to see Xuezhi scurrying around inside, helping to wash and chop vegetables.
When the dishes were served, Xuezhi came over with Qiu Hongxiu, carrying the food, smiling broadly as if she were very happy. Looking at the dishes being served, Shangguan Tou finally couldn't help but ask, "Zhi'er, did you go cook?"
"No, I was just helping Sister Hongxiu. I'm not very good at cooking." She then pointed with her chopsticks to the most oddly shaped dumpling on a plate, "I made this one."
Zhong Tao cleared his throat, wiped his face with his hand, and turned around.
Xuezhi wasn't very happy: "Don't worry, I'll eat this one."
After the meal was served, Xuezhi immediately served Shangguan Tou soup and added some Biluo shrimp, then smiled and said, "Brother Tou, please enjoy your meal."
Zhong Tao and Hong Xiu were already used to women pampering and coaxing Shangguan Tou, and didn't find it strange at all. But Shangguan Tou was dumbfounded. He was past the age of asking "Why are you so nice to me?", so he could only smile and say thank you, and then eat his meal inexplicably.
Xuezhi watched Shangguan Tou eat it, then continued with a smile, "Is it delicious?"
Shangguan Tou's expression stiffened slightly: "Delicious."
Xuezhi quickly finished her meal and walked up behind Shangguan Tou: "Brother Tou, you've had a hard day. Are you tired?"
Shangguan Tou said, "It's alright. Aren't you going to eat?"
Xuezhi immediately placed her hands on Shangguan Tou's shoulders: "Let me massage your back." She then began massaging and kneading his back. Shangguan Tou's body stiffened, but he still didn't know how to react.
Qiu Hongxiu said, "I never expected Xuezhi to be so well-behaved."
Zhong Tao said, "Bald guy, tsk tsk, where did you find such a good sister?"
Shangguan Tou didn't speak, nor did he eat. He had originally planned to eat after Xuezhi finished her massage, but finally couldn't help turning around and stopping her: "Thank you, I'm fine. You go have fun."
"It's okay, you eat, I'll give you a back massage."
Qiu Hongxiu slowly leaned forward, tilting her head to look at Shangguan Tou: "This is the first time I've seen Yipin Tou so nervous. Zhi'er, stop now, you'll shorten your lifespan if you keep hitting him."
Zhong Tao said, "What's wrong today? Didn't you always have three women helping you..."
Shangguan Tou spoke first: "Zhi'er, do you like visiting the dojo?"
"Does Tou-gege like it?"
"I don't really like it."
"I don't like that either."
Shangguan Tou fell silent again. Zhong Tao glanced at Xue Zhi, then at Shangguan Tou, and then at Qiu Hongxiu. Qiu Hongxiu wore a strange smile. Then Shangguan Tou tried to start a conversation, but no matter what he said, Xue Zhi always went along with it, and the strange atmosphere lasted all night. Finally, Xue Zhi got sleepy and went to sleep, and Shangguan Tou breathed a sigh of relief and started talking normally with the other two.
Zhong Tao said, "Hey bald guy, what's wrong with you? The girl is so well-behaved, but you're acting like you've done something wrong."
“Zhi’er isn’t usually like this. I don’t know what she’s trying to do.”