I asked my master, "Master, I basically understand the essence of it. Lin Yi and Mu Yanxue were both poisoned, and there was only one antidote. Lin Yi generously gave it to Mu Yanxue and lied to her, making her think that he had taken the sword manual and run away. But this still doesn't explain why he has your face."
The master calmly said, "The face is payment for medical treatment."
I shuddered. I had always known that my master's medical fees were extremely precious, but I didn't know that he had a penchant for collecting human skin. "But Lin Yi will die no matter what. Why don't you just skin him after he dies? That way, you can take advantage of the situation to get some other treasures before he dies."
My master looked at me and said, "I don't know what he said to the three officials back then."
I rubbed my hands together, eager to prove myself. "Master, does this mean that the peerless martial art, the 'Snow Bathing Sword Manual,' is in our Medicine King Valley?"
The master smiled and said, "That sword manual put Muxue Manor in turmoil at the time, so it was cremated along with Lin Yi when he died."
Main text [13] Mei Qinxue (4)
I found a piece of black cloth, poked two holes in it for my eyes, and covered my head with it. Actually, I had no intention of hiding the fact that I'm a woman from Lou Xiyue. It's just that he only found out yesterday that I wasn't Xia Jingnan, and today I'm inflicting the same blow on him again; I'm afraid he can't handle it.
I plan to gradually reveal the truth to Lou Xiyue, layer by layer, so that he can accept it more peacefully and will not repeat actions such as spraying snow on his master under the pretext of reciting poetry.
As dawn broke, the sky was already tinged with a rosy glow. I thought I'd first find my master to sit with me on the cliff edge and watch the sunrise, and then find Lou Xiyue for a chat. Muxue Mountain Villa is truly a sanctuary for lovers, with wind, flowers, snow, and moon; a precipice, the rising sun, and me, a lover at the ends of the earth.
I knocked on my master's door. He opened it and looked at me gently. "Xiao Xiang, why are you like this?"
I said seriously, "The sun is too strong on the mountaintop, I'm afraid of getting a tan."
master,"……"
I composed a line of poetry in my mind, my heart pounding like a deer, and finally mustered the courage to say to my master, "Master, the sun rises in the east while it rains in the west; it seems there's no sunshine, yet there is. Shall we go watch the sunrise together?"
The master smiled and nodded.
My heart is racing again.
But when we got to the best spot to watch the sunrise, we found that a man and a woman had already gotten there before us. I was quite regretful; if I had known this place was so popular, I should have brought a stool to reserve a seat last night.
The man and woman were Mu Yanxue and Shen Ran. Mu Yanxue sat by the cliff, while Shen Ran, dressed in a flowing blue robe, stood behind her, watching her. A wisp of sunset painted the sky and sea of clouds crimson, blooming brilliantly before their eyes.
Shen Ran was looking at her, but Mu Yanxue probably didn't know that, perhaps in his eyes, she was even more dazzling than the magnificent red sunset.
I found another spot and stood with my master on the mountaintop, watching the sun gradually rise from the east, spreading its golden light across the pristine snow. I turned to look at my master; his profile was serene and beautiful, his black hair tied up with a black ribbon, simple yet elegant.
Such a person, just quietly observing him, is more radiant than the East.
I looked at him and murmured, "Master, the sunrise is so beautiful."
The master pursed his lips slightly, without turning his head, and said to me in a low voice, "Xiao Xiang, sunrise and sunset, the cycle repeats itself. If you like, the west side of the bamboo forest in the valley is a good place to watch the sunset."
I was stunned and lost in thought. "Master, after we go down the mountain this time, are we going back to Medicine King Valley?"
He smiled warmly, "Doesn't Xiao Xiang want to see the world?"
What I really wanted to do was imagine how vibrant and colorful the outside world is, with all sorts of vibrant colors. I just didn't know if my master would be willing to travel with me.
I hesitated for a moment before replying, "Wherever Master goes, I will go."
I looked up and found that my master was no longer there. Only the footprints in the snow told me that he had once watched the sunrise and morning dew with me here.
As I returned to my room, I happened to run into Lou Xiyue. He frowned, looked me over, and after a moment of silence, smiled and asked, "What happened to your face?"
I decided to have a good talk with him to lay the groundwork for my future debut.
I poured a full cup of tea and said to Lou Xiyue, "Xiyue, you've been a disciple for some time now. Today, as we reminisce about the past, it's also a way to summarize your performance at this stage."
He took a sip of tea and raised an eyebrow at me.
I asked, "I'd like to ask you, do you have any complaints about me as your master?"
Lou Xiyue smiled and said, "No, Master is kind-hearted."
I looked at him. "Xiyue, what was your first impression of me?"
A mischievous glint flashed in Lou Xiyue's narrow eyes. He stared at me intently, pondered for a moment, then rested his chin on his hand, raised his eyes, and said casually, "Neither male nor female."
I was stunned.
Yesterday, Mu Yanxue saw through my disguise after only a few words with me. I initially thought she was a woman, and naturally, I have an inexplicable familiarity with women. Now, Lou Xiyue says he felt something strange about me when we first met. This forces me to seriously reflect that perhaps I still lack a truly natural and seamless demeanor.
I was dissatisfied. "But you clearly said I was a handsome and refined gentleman, and that I had an unparalleled temperament."
Lou Xiyue coughed lightly and smiled, "At that time, you were sitting."
I started drinking tea. "Xiyue, what are your thoughts on women taking on heavy responsibilities? Like the kind that would make heroes and valiant men infatuated with them, willing to go through fire and water for them, even risking their lives?"
He asked with interest, "Are you talking about Su Daji?"
I said, "Ahem, I was referring to Zhu Yingtai."
He tapped his fingertips on the table, his eyes smiling. "Zhu Yingtai disguised herself as a man, eager to learn. She is truly an outstanding woman."
I agreed with him, saying, "Yes, you and I are of the same mind. I think Zhu Yingtai is a talented person who broke through the shackles of feudal ethics and dared to face a male-dominated society."
Lou Xiyue glanced at me and said, "She really is a talent. She disguised herself for so long, and Liang Shanbo didn't even realize it."
I'm relieved. Perhaps this way, the fact that I'm a woman will only increase Lou Xiyue's respect for me. Then, I just need to find a suitable opportunity to tell him about it.
I laughed and said to him, "Later, around noon, Master Mu will hold another marriage contest. Do you want to guess who will win this time?"
Lou Xiyue looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "What do you think?"
I whispered, "I'll bet you a copper coin that Mu Yanxue will eventually marry Shen Ran. That is, your senior sister will marry your junior sister's older brother, and you will live happily ever after as a family."