Third update.
Someone was blowing a simple tune on a leaf; it creaked and groaned, yet sounded very clear and crisp.
Elephant bed, jade hands, producing wonders. A thousand flowers and ten thousand grasses, gleaming with emerald light. A tailor dresses, spring sings and dances, butterflies flutter and orioles sing.
Xiao Man's steps involuntarily followed the melody, and she walked around the woods, where she saw Ze Xiu sitting against a tree, slowly blowing on a leaf in his hand. Sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating his thick eyelashes, which seemed to be plated with gold and trembled slightly.
She tiptoed over, sat down next to him with her knees drawn up to her chest, rested her face on her knees, and said nothing.
He was still playing the flute: "The white silk, dyed with such defilement, is already pitiful. The world is so filthy and colorless. It should be like an autumn fan, forever discarded, never to be served to you again."
Xiao Man stared blankly at her toes and whispered, "Ze Xiu, you are different from him. If something happens to him, I will worry and be sad, but if something happens to you, I will be with you."
He stopped blowing, but also remained silent, slowly twirling the leaf in his hand. The little rascal, obediently grazing beside him, occasionally rubbed its nose against his hand, giving him a sweet, puffing breath.
Xiao Man was silent for a moment, then said, "However, I am not a thing, I don't belong to anyone. I am who I am."
He remained silent, the leaf in his hand slowly turning, a gesture that was both frivolous and poised to strike.
She paused, then became annoyed: "Are you blaming me for saying the wrong thing? Should I have lied to those people? I did something bad again, I lied to people."
Thank God, he finally spoke, his voice calm: "No, you did the right thing. In that situation, if you didn't go along with him, he would turn around and bite you. If you fought with him, you would only end up dead."
"So you're not angry anymore?" Xiaoman immediately seized the opportunity. She climbed onto the roof, tilting her head to look at him. He pursed his lips and remained silent again. Xiaoman tried to appease him by tugging at his hand and gently shaking his little finger, her face full of pleading.
She's really getting better and better at being charming and coquettish, doing it flawlessly and melting hearts instantly. All anger and resentment vanish without a trace.
Zexiu glared at her with a stern face, but after a while he couldn't hold back and flicked her forehead: "Little brat."
Xiao Man smiled and said, "I was a little devil all along."
She leaned softly against his shoulder, humming an unknown tune, her voice delicate and clear. Her hands were white, soft, and slender, playing slowly with the hem of his shirt; her nails were a pale pink, like translucent seashells. Her hair was soft and cool, tickling her neck, and carrying an indescribable fragrance. Her body was slender, but not pitifully frail; rather, she was lively and agile. Beneath her skirt, her feet kicked at the leaves, crunching the dry foliage as if it were a delightful game.
She looked up. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed above her eyelashes, giving her an innocent and naive appearance, and an air of utter pitifulness—these eyebrows played a significant role in her look. Beneath her eyelashes were dark eyes; she wasn't looking at him, but at the trees above her head. A squirrel had just scurried past, and she immediately showed interest.
A sudden warmth spread across her face, and Xiaoman instinctively smiled at Zexiu. He looked down at her intently, his peach blossom eyes revealing a look of bewilderment for the first time, a look that seemed to stretch endlessly into the darkness.
"How about I truly make you mine?" he whispered. "Xiaoman, do you want to be a real woman?"
What does that mean? She was immediately puzzled, instinctively sensing danger, and took a small step back.
Zexiu closed his eyes, then opened them again. The deep darkness had vanished. He smiled and pulled her up from the ground. "Let's go. The matter of Mount No Return has been resolved, and we're all settled now. I'll take you to travel around and have some fun."
Xiaoman nodded, then suddenly said, "Oh no, I forgot about Lianyi! I wonder where she's run off to again!"
He mounted his horse, pulled her into his arms, and said, "You won't need her anymore, so why take her with you? She has her own life to live, and if fate allows, we'll meet again someday."
After saying that, he flicked his whip, and the horse, obediently and slowly, started to run.
He had once considered making her truly his own, but that was a selfish thought. To imprison her simply out of spite or some other reason, to extinguish that innocent, radiant light—he himself would never forgive himself for that. "You little brat," he smacked her forehead, a surge of anger rising within him, "When will you ever act like a woman?!"
Xiao Man cried out in pain, "Do you know how much it hurts?! Try slapping you! I'm not a woman, are you?"
Zexiu laughed heartily, shaking his head and sighing as he laughed, "You're still early, still early."
Back in Jasina's tent, both of them were travel-worn. After taking a shower, they huddled in the tent, opened a map, and discussed where to go next.
"How about going to Jiangnan? I've never been there before," Xiaoman enthusiastically suggested.
Zexiu shook his head: "By the time we get there, it will be summer, and it will be unbearably hot. We should go to Kaifeng Prefecture instead. It's even more prosperous than Zhenzhou. You probably haven't been to such a big city before."
"What's fun there?" Xiao Man lay on the ground, legs up, popping raisins into her mouth one by one. These were the raisins Jia Xina had given her earlier.
"Yeah, you'll see how fun it is when you get there. The route passes through Lanzhou and Dunhuang, and you can also visit your hometown, Wutong Town. You little rascal, you've been out for so long, your parents must be worried, right?"
He also grabbed a handful of raisins and stuffed them into his mouth.
Xiao Man was stunned for a moment, and after a long while, she said, "No way. Maybe it's better for them if I leave, then we'll feel more like a family."
Zexiu was also stunned for a moment, and didn't say anything.
"Hmm... My mother died a long time ago. Before she died, my father left home for three years and found a second wife. My mother probably died of anger. In any case, my second wife, my brother, and my father are more like family. It always feels strange for me to stay here."
Zexiu patted her head and suddenly asked, "Do you want to come to my house?"
Xiao Man immediately thought of his fourth aunt's face, and the thought made him feel bored. He shook his head without any interest: "I'm not going. Those women are just looking for trouble. It's so boring."
Just as Ze Xiu was about to speak, he suddenly heard someone calling him from outside the tent. He immediately got up and lifted the curtain. He saw three people standing in front of the tent: it was none other than the young master of Cangya City, Xiyas, and Limtuo. The other was Chief Steward Yuan of Lianfang City. It was rare to see these three people together. He immediately clasped his hands in greeting: "So you are all resting here as well. It's truly a rare sight."
Rimto beamed and called out, "Zexiu! Long time no see!"
Zexiu nodded, and then heard Steward Yuan smile and say, "I was able to break free from my shackles this time thanks to Mr. Zexiu's righteous help. Lianfang City will never forget your kindness."
Zexiu was extremely impatient with these formalities, so he could only give a few perfunctory replies. Sure enough, he quickly revealed his true intentions: "That young lady, is her name Xiaoman? I have something I would like to say to her, and I would be grateful if you could introduce me to her, sir."
Just as Zexiu was about to turn around and call her, Xiaoman had already come up to him, staring wide-eyed at Steward Yuan. Suddenly, she smiled slightly: "Steward Yuan, hello! You live here too?"
Seeing that he seemed to have something to say to Xiaoman, Zexiu realized it wouldn't be good for him to stay. Judging from the expressions of Limto and Sias, he roughly guessed what they meant. He went into the tent and retrieved a wooden box. The three of them went to another tent to drink and reminisce.
Steward Yuan smiled slightly at Xiao Man: "May I go in?"
Xiao Man lifted the curtain and invited him in, pouring him a cup of milk tea from the pot.
Manager Yuan thanked him and accepted the drink, but didn't drink it, his eyes fixed on her face. Xiao Man felt uneasy under his gaze and couldn't help but whisper, "Manager Yuan, is there something you need?"
He chuckled again and said in a low voice, "I'll get straight to the point. You look very familiar, young lady. I wonder if your mother is the daughter of Mr. Guo, the master of Lianfang City?"
Xiao Man was taken aback, hesitated for a long time, and then said, "Um...yes. But...my mother...didn't she say she wasn't his biological child..."
Steward Yuan said in a low voice, "Whether it is or not is not important. What is important is that Mr. Guo cares a lot about you, his granddaughter. He was very saddened to hear that you were suffering outside."
Xiao Man didn't say anything.
He then asked, "Where is your mother now?"
"Oh, she... passed away a long time ago."
Steward Yuan nodded, took a sip of milk tea, and said softly, "I came to Mount No Return this time on Mr. Guo's instructions. There are some things that Mr. Guo asked me to pass on to you."
He pulled an envelope from his sleeve and handed it to Xiaoman with both hands. She took it with a puzzled look, finding it thick and heavy, almost like a stack of silver notes. Steward Yuan said, “This is ten thousand taels of gold, the same amount the thieves demanded from your mother. Mr. Guo asked me to tell you: it's not that he's unwilling to part with ten thousand taels, but he doesn't want to be threatened. Furthermore, Lianfang City is a prominent family, and Mr. Guo's children and grandchildren are all refined and elegant figures. Forgive my bluntness, but you, young lady, come from a poor background and your behavior is coarse and frivolous, lacking any of the refinement expected of someone from Lianfang City. Mr. Guo asked me to give you this money to fulfill one of his regrets. It would be best if you didn't mention Lianfang City when you're out and about.”
Xiaoman finally understood what he meant. He gave her 10,000 gold coins as a way to keep her quiet, but she was not allowed to say that she was Guo Yusheng's granddaughter and that they had no relation at all.
She squeezed the envelope, suddenly smiled, stuffed it into her bosom, and looked up, saying, "Okay, I understand. I won't tell."
Steward Yuan was very satisfied with her cooperation and said with a smile, "Miss is indeed straightforward. However, since you have already agreed today, it would be difficult for Lianfang City to make things difficult if you bring this up again in the future..."
Xiao Man's eyebrows twitched, and she laughed, "Is your Lianfang City so fragrant that even flies and bees want to get close to it? Do I need it to survive?"
Steward Yuan's expression changed, and he forced a smile, saying, "That's not what I meant..."
Xiao Man waved her hand: "No need to say more, I've already promised today, so I won't bring it up again. What kind of place is Lianfang City? I've never even heard of it."
Steward Yuan could only nod. After sitting for a while, he got up to take his leave. As he walked to the door, he suddenly turned back with a look of appreciation in his eyes and said softly, "If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, Miss, it has nothing to do with Lianfang City. I, Yuan, am willing to help you and repay the life-saving grace you have today."
"Thank you." She didn't waste any words.
The curtain was closed, and Xiaoman, clutching the envelope, stood there for a long while before slowly lying down on the ground, seemingly unwilling to open it and count the contents.
After some time, Zexiu walked in and saw her lying blankly on the ground, hugging her knees and curling up into a ball. There was a thick envelope next to her. He couldn't help but walk over and hug her around the waist.
"What's wrong? What did he say to you?"
Xiao Man gave an "oh," chuckled, slapped the envelope, and said smugly, "Ten thousand gold coins! Uncle Zexiu, don't underestimate me. I'm not just a little rich girl anymore, you have to call me a super rich girl!"
Zexiu smiled slightly, lowered his head and kissed her on the cheek: "You little brat."
Crimson Butterfly Scroll, Chapter Six: Was Something Wrong? (Part Three)
Updated: 2008-10-18 21:27:52 Word Count: 4476
Come on, let's continue with the midnight dance!
First update.
"What do the others want from you?" Xiao Man lay on his lap, her hair was undone, and Ze Xiu slowly combed it with his hands.
“They came to ask for the Five Corners of Zhenbei, and I gave them to them.”
Xiao Man said "Oh," then suddenly sighed, "The things we risked our lives to find, we just gave them away so easily."
Zexiu patted her face, then suddenly hugged her and lay down next to her.
"Xiao Man," he called softly.
"What?" She looked up.
He smiled and said, "Want to go to Jiangnan again? Lianfang City is in Suzhou."
Xiao Man blinked: "Go, why wouldn't I go? I'm not the one who feels guilty."
His brow twitched: "Well done, kid."
"Can you please stop calling me 'little devil' all the time?" she protested. "If you keep calling me like that, when will I ever grow into a beautiful, voluptuous woman?"
Zexiu laughed so hard he almost cramped up. Suddenly, he raised his hand and gently pressed it against her chest. Xiaoman was startled, but he immediately pulled away and whispered, "It's still early, poor little one."
Xiao Man raised her fist to punch him, but he grabbed her and held her down. After struggling for a long time, she finally got tired and fell into a deep sleep.
Xiaoman soon discovered that she and Zexiu had truly become famous in the martial arts world. Wherever they went, people would invite them to meals, and everyone was extremely attentive. From the Uyghurs all the way to Lanzhou, apart from staying in the mountains and hunting their own game, they didn't need to spend any money on accommodation or food whenever they stayed in towns.
Zexiu disliked this, so he eventually refused all these enthusiastic invitations and preferred to take Xiaoman along mountain trails.
"Zexiu, do you really dislike crowded places?"
At dusk, a fragrant wild rabbit roasted over the fire. Xiao Man asked as she skillfully turned the rabbit over.
He was still engrossed in polishing the swords. Although he hadn't been apprehending any criminals recently and the swords weren't stained with blood, this habit was hard to break once formed. He polished the three swords until they gleamed, as if they had just been forged in the furnace.
Why do you ask that?
"Oh, because you always avoid people who want to treat us to lodging and meals. Do you not like large groups of people and feel uncomfortable with them?"
He always acted alone, traveling all over the country without any companions, and never stayed in one place for long, spending most of his time wandering around.