Chapter 13 : The Second Young Miss
13: The Second Young Miss
Early the next morning, while Fu Peibai was still asleep, she vaguely heard a deep male voice.
"Little Bai."
She suddenly opened her eyes and saw Meng Yan's rough face looming above her.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked, "What is it, Brother Meng?"
Meng Yan grabbed her outer robe and tossed it onto her. "Put on your clothes. Come with me."
Fu Peibai didn't ask questions. She nimbly pulled on her outer robe and followed Meng Yan out of the room. Outside, the sky was still dim. Their footsteps were light. Meng Yan led her on a winding path, sometimes climbing steps, sometimes descending. After about a quarter of an hour, he guided her to the entrance of a cave.
"This is the place."
The cave entrance was very well hidden, tangled with many green vines. It was only wide enough for one person to pass through.
"This is?" Fu Peibai asked with confusion.
Meng Yan didn't explain. He reached out and pulled aside the vines, taking the lead and ducking into the cave entrance. "Follow me."
After the two entered the cave and walked for a while, the view suddenly opened up. A massive hollow cavern appeared. The ceiling and floor were covered with gray rocks of various shapes. Illuminated by the weak light of candles, a sudden glance made them look like strange beasts.
Meng Yan fished out several candles from his chest, lit them one by one, and placed them in various corners. He explained, "There are many limestone caverns like this on Chaoquan Peak. Sound cannot escape from inside. It is very secluded. From now on, come here every day at the transition between the Yin and Mao hours to practice martial arts with me. Practice for two hours before returning. Also, the fact that I am teaching you martial arts must not be revealed. You cannot tell anyone. Can you do that?"
Fu Peibai nodded.
"Good. Today I will first teach you the basic fundamentals of martial arts. Shoulder work, waist work, leg work, hand forms, hand techniques, stances, footwork, jumping, body movement, and so on. After you master these proficiently, I will teach you internal energy. After that, we will combine it with weapons. We will proceed step by step."
"Next, I will demonstrate a set of boxing techniques. It looks simple, but it actually contains all the body movements of martial arts. Watch carefully." After saying this, he took a deep breath. His eyes became sharp. He spread his feet and planted them firmly. His body sank, and he punched swiftly forward.
As Meng Yan performed the moves, he chanted in a loud voice, "Eyes must be venomous, hands must be cunning. Step into the central gate and drill inside. Eyes have the clarity of inspection, hands have the ability to deflect and turn, feet have the power to travel and advance. Two elbows do not leave the ribs, two hands do not leave the heart."
He was tall and sturdy, yet his figure was incredibly agile at this moment. Every move and every form was full of power.
"Attack when they are unprepared. Strike where they least expect. The front foot follows the back foot, the back foot steps on the bend of the leg. The back foot follows the front foot, the front leg lifts and connects behind. First, advance the left leg and follow..."
Fu Peibai widened her eyes, watching until she was dazzled. These moves were completely different from Lu Yanran's light as a swallow, soft as water sword forms. Every punch and every kick from Meng Yan contained full power, rigid and domineering.
After finishing the set, Meng Yan withdrew his movements and regulated his internal breath. "Did you understand?"
Fu Peibai nodded in a daze, her heart surging with emotion. "Brother Meng, so you actually know martial arts."
She had initially thought Meng Yan was just an ordinary steward of the servants. Now it seemed he was clearly a master hiding his skills. Why then did he live in seclusion here, content to be an ordinary person?
Meng Yan's expression remained unchanged. He said seriously, "Remember our agreement. This matter cannot be known by anyone."
"I don't require you to instantly master the boxing technique I just showed you, but you must memorize it in your brain. In your free time, recall and ponder it yourself."
"Understood. Should I start practicing now?"
Meng Yan narrowed his eyes. "No rush. First, assume the horse stance."
After Fu Peibai assumed the horse stance, he picked up a strangely shaped stone and placed it on top of Fu Peibai's head.
This stone was uneven and wobbled unsteadily on Fu Peibai's head.
"Hold the horse stance for two hours. The stone on your head cannot fall. If it falls, we start the timer over."
Fu Peibai blinked, indicating she understood.
Meng Yan yawned, walked to the opposite side, found a flat spot, and lay down. He pillowed his arm behind his head and narrowed his eyes. "I'll sleep for a while. Wake me in two hours."
"Mn."
Regular snoring sounds gradually echoed in the empty limestone cavern. Fu Peibai held the horse stance. At first, she felt relaxed. As time gradually passed, her body began to heat up and sweat. Originally, this cavern was relatively cold, but now she felt incredibly hot.
A quarter of an hour passed. Her legs trembled slightly. Her arms felt unusually heavy, and her spine felt soft. The stone on her head wobbled slightly. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, persisting.
Another half cup of tea's time passed. Her horse stance posture was no longer very standard. Her legs ached so much they shook uncontrollably. Finally, the stone fell to the ground with a sound.
The snoring also stopped at this moment. Meng Yan flipped over and walked over. He picked up the stone and tossed it in his hand. Looking at Fu Peibai's disappointed and unwilling face, he said, "That's enough, kid. You don't have a foundation in martial arts. For your small frame to stand for half an hour is already not easy. Let's stop here for today. We'll practice again tomorrow."
Fu Peibai was still unwilling. "I can practice a little more."
"I said we must proceed step by step. Are you thinking of reaching the heavens in a single bound? Take it slowly. First, build a good foundation. When the day comes that you can easily hold the stance for two hours, then you can start learning that set of boxing techniques."
Since Meng Yan had said so, Fu Peibai could only nod. She knew martial arts couldn't be rushed, but she couldn't help wanting to be faster. If she were faster, she could avenge her family.
The two left the cave. Just then, the sun was rising in the east. Fu Peibai looked at the bright yellow sunlight in the distance. Her body was exhausted, but the haze in her heart was swept away.
For several days in a row, Fu Peibai came to the cave on time to practice the horse stance. Sometimes Meng Yan would accompany her. Sometimes, because he couldn't get up, he would let Fu Peibai go alone.
On this day, Fu Peibai came to the cave alone, familiar with the way. After finishing the horse stance, she was dripping with sweat. Now she could stand much longer than at the beginning. The visible progress every day made her feel physically and mentally comfortable. Walking out of the cave, she habitually stopped to admire the sunrise, but then she heard an unfamiliar female voice behind her.
"Who are you?"
Fu Peibai turned her head to look. It was a stranger she had never seen on the peak before. The young girl was about the same age as her, with small, delicate brows, eyes, and features.
Seeing Fu Peibai didn't answer, the young girl stepped forward two steps, raised her chin arrogantly, and asked, "I am asking you a question. Who are you?"
Fu Peibai looked at the other's silk robes and lowered her eyes. "I am a new servant on the peak."
The young girl walked around Fu Peibai with her hands behind her back, sizing up the youth before her. "No wonder I've never seen you. What is your name?"
"Fu Peibai."
The young girl nodded and said, "At this hour, instead of working in the back mountain, why are you sneaking around here? Tell me, what are you doing?"
Fu Peibai was speechless. She thought she had just been standing here watching the sunrise. How did that become sneaking around? She raised her eyes and calmly glanced at the concealed cave entrance, then replied, "I am watching the sunrise here."
The young girl furrowed her brows, seemingly judging the truth of Fu Peibai's words. After a moment, she relented. "Fine. You may go."
Fu Peibai felt as if a burden had been lifted. She left quickly. After returning to the back courtyard, she recounted what had just happened to Meng Yan. Meng Yan slapped his forehead and asked, "Was the little girl you spoke of wearing a golden hairpin?"
"I didn't notice."
"Anyway, in our Heavenly Pole Sect, there is only one girl around thirteen or fourteen years old who dresses in such luxurious clothes as you described. That is our Peak Master's own younger sister, the Sect Master's youngest daughter, Lu Qingwan."
Fu Peibai was somewhat surprised. She had always thought the Peak Master was an only daughter. It turned out there was also a younger sister.
She thought of that little girl's arrogant and domineering appearance, then thought of Lu Yanran's cool and self restrained manner. She stammered, "The Peak Master and her sister really have completely different personalities."
"The Second Young Miss's mother fell ill and died not long after she was born. So naturally, the Sect Master dotes on this young daughter who lost her mother at an early age. The Second Young Miss has been spoiled since childhood, so her personality is inevitably a bit unruly. Next time you see her, you'd better take a detour. She is a famous little tyrant in the sect. Even the Sect Master can't control her. She only listens to the Peak Master's words."
Fu Peibai nodded obediently and went to busy herself with today's tasks.
......
Inside the small bamboo dwelling on Chaoquan Peak, the usually domineering Second Young Miss Lu Qingwan was now obediently leaning on her older sister's shoulder. Her brows and eyes were gentle. "Sister, I missed you. Did you miss Wan'er?" Lu Yanran still had her usual indifferent expression, but her tone was much warmer. "Naturally, I missed you. Did you encounter anything unpleasant during your travels?"
At the mention of this, Lu Qingwan became unhappy. She complained in a small voice, "It's all Father's fault. I said I didn't want so many people following me, but he insisted on sending so many people to surround me all day. Those people wouldn't let me do this, wouldn't let me do that. It was so boring."
"In chaotic times, it is easy for a young lady to encounter danger outside. Father did this because he worries about you."
"Next time, take me out to play, Sister, alright?"
"Alright. You haven't gone to see Father since you came back, have you? Go pay your respects to Father quickly."
"Sister isn't going?"
"I have things to do later. You go ahead."
Lu Qingwan reluctantly bade farewell to Lu Yanran and went to Qingliao Peak.
Qingliao Peak was the second largest peak on Jinyun Mountain after the main peak, Cangqiong. Because it was under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Pole Sect's Sect Master, once one crossed the suspension bridge and advanced for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, what came into view was a vast and sprawling complex of palaces. Pavilions and towers, carved beams and painted rafters. It was truly spectacular.
Lu Qingwan ran into the main hall in a few steps. Inside the hall, a middle aged man on the main seat was instructing a group of subordinates below. Seeing his young daughter approach from a distance, his stern brows immediately relaxed. He rose from his seat to welcome her, beaming with joy. "Wan'er, you've finally come back."
Everyone spoke in unison, "Greetings, Second Young Miss."
Lu Qingwan took Lu Wencheng's arm, displaying the manner of a young daughter fully. "Because I missed Daddy, I couldn't wait to come back."
Lu Wencheng had a face full of affection. "Good, good. You haven't eaten breakfast yet, right? How about eating with Daddy once in a while?"
Naturally, Lu Qingwan happily agreed.
"Wan'er, sit next to Daddy," Lu Wencheng said. Without avoiding anyone, he continued to instruct his subordinates on official business.
"Destroying the Falling Shadow Sect in one fell swoop this time is truly inspiring. Every faction in the martial world has contributed greatly. Therefore, this celebration assembly must be prepared with great care. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes, Sect Master."
"Pass down the instructions. The assembly is tentatively scheduled to be held on Cangqiong Peak in three days."
The news of the Heavenly Pole Sect preparing for a celebration assembly quickly spread throughout the martial world. This assembly invited more than twenty sects of various sizes. The number of attendees was roughly estimated to be as high as several hundred. This also caused every peak of the Heavenly Pole Sect to become busy. It also forced Fu Peibai to interrupt her daily morning martial arts practice. She could only wait until everyone was asleep before feeling her way in the dark to go to the cave to practice.