Chapter 25 : A Night of Conversation
25: A Night of Conversation
He Yangyao beamed as he clinked cups with Lu Wencheng and downed the wine in one gulp. He pulled He Cong over and said, "In the future, I'll have to trouble Brother Lu to look after this son of mine. When he officially enters the Heavenly Pole Sect, please discipline him well. If he makes any mistakes, punish him as you see fit. No need to be soft-hearted."
"Naturally. You can rest assured, Brother He."
He Yangyao shifted his gaze to Lu Yanran and smiled warmly. "Yanran is now in the prime of her youth. Though young and a woman, she has earned the position of Peak Master through her own ability. Truly admirable. When I think back to how I was already past forty before I became master of this villa, comparing myself to Yanran, I feel quite ashamed."
Lu Yanran offered a modest smile. "Uncle He praises me too generously."
He Yangyao stroked his beard and laughed heartily. He clapped Lu Wencheng on the arm. "Brother Lu, I really must say something to you. Yanran is now a grown young lady, yet she remains unmarried. Do you plan to keep your daughter by your side forever to help you manage sect affairs?"
Lu Wencheng sighed. "Brother He, you've seen for yourself. My eldest daughter excels in both character and appearance, and her martial arts achievements are exceptional. Truly, there are few men in this world who are a match for Yanran. I'm also afraid that if she marries out, she'll suffer."
He Yangyao narrowed his eyes, waved his hand, and pointed at He Cong. "I wonder what Brother Lu thinks of my son? Actually, I won't hide it from you. Ever since this boy saw Yanran four years ago, it was as if he lost his soul. Before he even had hair on his face, he swore to me that he would marry no one but Yanran in this life. I thought it was just youthful passion, a passing fancy. But who would have thought that after sending him out to gain experience for a few years, he returns with a stronger body and improved martial arts, yet his heart is still set on your daughter. So I'm taking this opportunity to speak on his behalf.
"Furthermore, I see that Yanran and Cong'er are similar in age and well-matched in appearance. You and I already have a friendship. If our children could come together, the He and Lu families would be forever joined in harmony, becoming even closer. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Seeing that Lu Wencheng's face showed some hesitation, he gave He Cong a kick that was neither too light nor too heavy. "You boy, what are you standing there for? Your Uncle Lu and Yanran are right in front of you. Speak up about your thoughts and intentions."
A trace of shyness appeared on He Cong's resolute face as he mumbled, "I, I indeed have admired Miss Lu for a long time. I hope Uncle Lu will grant my wish."
Lu Wencheng looked at He Cong, then at Lu Yanran, and said, "This... although marriage is a matter of parental command and matchmaker's words, I still wish to respect Yanran's own wishes."
As soon as these words fell, all three pairs of eyes turned to Lu Yanran. She lowered her gaze slightly and replied, "Yanran thanks Young Master He for his deep regard. However, Father has no son. As his eldest daughter, Yanran must inherit Father's aspirations, revitalize the Heavenly Pole Sect, and maintain peace in the martial world. Therefore, my ambitions do not lie in romance."
He Cong said urgently, "I can wait for you!"
"Young Master He is handsome and highly skilled in martial arts. In the future, you will certainly meet a woman even more excellent than Yanran."
"No. I am devoted only to you. This will never change in this life!"
He Yangyao narrowed his eyes and observed Lu Yanran's reaction. Her cold and distant manner clearly showed she had no interest in his son. He sighed inwardly at the pity of it. If Lu Yanran married into Red Feather Villa as his daughter-in-law, he would have been quite satisfied. But since she had no interest, he couldn't force the matter. So he patted He Cong on the shoulder. "Alright, stop talking. Yanran has made herself clear. Don't pester her and become a nuisance."
"Brother Lu, it seems we're not destined to be in-laws. If you and I hadn't both lost our wives early, and if your family had another daughter and mine another son now, we would certainly arrange a marriage between them. A hundred-year friendship between our two families would truly be a blessing."
Lu Wencheng responded with a loud laugh and began chatting with He Yangyao about family matters.
After that, whatever was said, Fu Peibai couldn't hear at all. She had only caught the rough gist of the conversation earlier. It seemed to be about marriage and such.
She was lost in thought when Lu Yanran walked back over. Seeing Fu Peibai standing by the table with her neck stretched far forward in a rather comical posture, she asked, "What are you doing?"
Fu Peibai snapped back to attention. She twisted her neck as if to cover up her eavesdropping and laughed awkwardly. "My neck is a bit sore. Just stretching it. Heh."
Lu Yanran sat back down at the table and had A-Fu pour her a cup of wine. "If you're tired, you may withdraw. There's no need for you to serve here."
Fu Peibai made a sound of acknowledgement and left the main hall. Though she now had free time, she didn't feel particularly happy. Her mind kept wandering back to what the Peak Master had been discussing with them at the banquet.
She spent the entire evening feeling unsettled, unable to sit still. She tossed and turned on her floor mat until she was scolded by someone sharing the room.
"What are you moving around for? Are you trying to keep everyone from sleeping?"
Fu Peibai whispered an apology, put on her outer clothes, and went out the door.
All the guards from the Heavenly Pole Sect were staying in the back courtyard, separated from the front courtyard by a high wall. She wandered around for a bit, wanting to find a secluded place to practice martial arts. So she climbed over the back wall and arrived at a forest not far from the villa.
She practiced the same set of fist techniques that Meng Yan had taught her. Now she could execute them with impressive power. Though her moves lacked Meng Yan's dominance, she had developed her own unique sense of fluidity and strength.
After completing the set, she stood still and exhaled to regulate her breathing. She thought about how, if she could return to the mountain by the end of the year, she could have Meng Yan teach her sword techniques. Then she headed back.
When she returned to the back courtyard, she still didn't feel sleepy. She found a stone stool to sit on, rested her chin in her hand, and began admiring the moon. Her memories were pulled back to Huailiu Village of the past.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival one year. Her mother had made a large batch of mooncakes to give to the neighbors. The remaining ones were filled with rock sugar, osmanthus, and almonds, which she and her younger brother loved most. She and her brother each held a large mooncake as they sat on small wooden stools in the courtyard, looking up at the round moon in the sky. Their father and mother stood behind them, arms wrapped around each other. Everyone said it was a time of perfect happiness and family reunion.
But now it had all become an illusion, a bubble in a dream. Her mood gradually grew heavy. She lay down on the stone table and closed her eyes, unwilling to think anymore.
Who would have thought that as she lay there, her consciousness would begin to blur, and she would unknowingly fall asleep? But sleeping in that position wasn't comfortable. She shrugged her shoulders and suddenly felt much lighter. Her eyes flew open and met Lu Yanran's light brown gaze, barely visible in the night.
"Peak Master, why are you here?" Fu Peibai exclaimed in surprise. She turned to look at the ground. What she had just shaken off was a clean white outer robe. She quickly picked it up and dusted it off. There was no need to ask whose it was. She immediately held it out to Lu Yanran.
Lu Yanran was sitting on the stone stool across from her, wearing only a thin middle garment. "I had nothing to do, so I was just walking around. But you, why aren't you inside sleeping?"
"I also just finished walking around and accidentally fell asleep here."
As they finished speaking, the door over there creaked open. A bare-chested man walked out, eyes bleary with sleep, yawning. He looked like he was going to relieve himself. But he was completely caught off guard to see two people in the courtyard. He rubbed his eyes, and after seeing who they were, his jaw nearly dropped in shock. "Peak, Peak Master, you, why are you here?"
Fu Peibai didn't have time to think. She shot to her feet and positioned herself in front of Lu Yanran, frowning. "Brother, the Peak Master and I have matters to discuss. Please excuse us."
The man repeatedly said "oh," turned around, went back into the room, and shut the door with a click.
Fu Peibai let out a breath of relief. Red Feather Villa wasn't like the mountain. It was much hotter, so most of the men slept bare-chested at night. She was used to it and could ignore it, but she absolutely couldn't let the Peak Master see such a sight.
"What matters do you have to discuss with me?"
Fu Peibai turned around and touched her nose awkwardly. "Just an excuse. By the way, Peak Master, your clothes." She held out the outer robe again.
Lu Yanran didn't take it. She rose gracefully and walked toward the exit of the back courtyard. After a few steps, she turned her head. "I'd like to walk a bit more. Would you like to come?"
Fu Peibai froze for a moment, then hurriedly followed. Looking at those slender shoulders ahead, she quickly shook out the outer robe and draped it over them.
Then the two walked out of the back courtyard and wandered aimlessly along the winding path outside the villa.
Though Red Feather Villa couldn't compare to the green mountains and waters of Jinyun Mountain, that paradise on earth, it had its own unique character. The entire villa was situated halfway up a mountain in the suburbs. Standing at a high point and gazing out, one could see the magnificent and prosperous Yizhou City below.
At this moment, Fu Peibai and Lu Yanran stood on a slightly elevated hill. The distant scene of endless lights and prosperity was mesmerizing.
A gust of night wind blew, carrying a slight chill. Fu Peibai stared at the white figure before her, hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward two paces and reminded her, "Peak Master, let's go back. The night is cold and windy. Be careful not to catch a chill."
Lu Yanran turned her head. She was standing on slightly higher ground than Fu Peibai, so at this moment she was looking down at her. The night was too dark to see the youth's features clearly, but she could distinctly see those bright eyes.
People in this world have countless desires. She had seen too many people. Their eyes were filled with either fawning flattery or scheming intrigue or false affection. They had long been blinded by this worldly existence, by power and money. Yet Fu Peibai still maintained eyes as pure as a child's, untainted by the world. A pure heart was the most precious thing of all.
She stared at Fu Peibai for a long time before finally taking a step and saying, "Let's go."
On the way back to the villa, though neither spoke a word, Fu Peibai didn't feel awkward at all. She quite enjoyed following silently behind Lu Yanran like this, even without saying anything.
When they reached the place where they needed to part ways, she suddenly felt reluctant. She wanted to extend this moment, to make it last a little longer. So she stopped.
"Peak Master."
"You..."
They spoke at the same time, both pausing in surprise. Fu Peibai's brow and eyes relaxed, and a smile appeared on her lips. "Peak Master, you go first."
"Nothing important. You speak."
Fu Peibai's gaze began to wander. She clasped her hands behind her back, twisting them tightly together, looking here and there as she said, "It's just that at the banquet today, I seemed to hear the Sect Master saying something about marriage. Is the Peak Master getting married, or is the Second Young Miss getting married?"
Lu Yanran narrowed her eyes. A hint of smile appeared in them, though her expression remained calm. "Qingwan is genuinely devoted to you, completely smitten. She only has eyes for you. Father has always doted on her, so he will likely grant her wish."
Fu Peibai raised her hands in alarm. "No, no, no. There's absolutely no possibility between me and the Second Young Miss. She's young and inexperienced, mistaking gratitude for romantic feelings. When she gets a bit older, she'll realize that."
After saying this, she thought of something else, and her tone carried a hint of loss. "If it's not the Second Young Miss, then is the Peak Master getting married?"
Lu Yanran sighed softly. "Do you know how old I am?"
"Twen... ty?"
"Indeed. At my age, ordinary women have already married and become wives. They may have even borne two children by now. Tell me, should I be getting married?"
Fu Peibai clenched her fist and asked uncertainly, "Is the Peak Master going to marry that Young Master He?"
Lu Yanran didn't answer directly. She simply said, "The Second Young Master He has an impressive presence. His martial arts are top-notch among his generation, and his family background is truly not bad. He is indeed a qualified candidate for marriage."
Fu Peibai felt a tightness in her chest. Her brow furrowed, then relaxed, then furrowed again. This went on for a long while before she finally spoke. "But he is not worthy of the Peak Master."
"Oh? Then what kind of person do you think is worthy of me?"
Fu Peibai raised her head, looking completely serious. "Someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Peak Master must first have exceptional martial arts skills. Only then can they protect the Peak Master. Furthermore, their appearance cannot be lacking. I'm not saying they need to be as handsome as a deity, but at the very least they should have regular features. Otherwise, it would affect the next generation. As for character, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness are essential. Remaining calm when facing difficulties is also essential. They must be resourceful, ambitious, and humble. Oh, and they must be gentle, attentive, and patient. Only then can they take good care of the Peak Master. I think only someone with at least these qualities could be worthy of the Peak Master."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a sudden laugh. She looked over in confusion and saw that Lu Yanran was smiling broadly. Her usually cold features seemed to melt like ice. Her brow and eyes completely relaxed, curved with laughter.
She had never seen Lu Yanran smile like this. It was the first time. The sound of her laughter entered Fu Peibai's ears, spread through her chest, and made her heart pound like a drum, beating fiercely. She thought she must have said something wrong and asked somewhat helplessly, "What is it? Peak Master."
Lu Yanran suppressed her smile, but the joy on her face remained undiminished. "How could there be such a flawless person in this world?"
Fu Peibai thought back and realized she had indeed been overly strict. "Such people are indeed rare, but they definitely exist. The Peak Master deserves someone like that."
"Is that so?"
Fu Peibai gave a firm hum of agreement.
Lu Yanran pulled the outer robe tighter around herself. As she turned to leave, she left behind one sentence. "Then I shall wait and see."