Chapter 34 : Time Together
34: Time Together
The next day, Fu Peibai woke with a throbbing head, stuffy nose, and sore throat. After rushing through wind and rain for over half a month, her body was, after all, not made of iron.
She struggled to sit up but felt weak and limp all over. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and an indescribable misery filled her entire being.
Before long, someone knocked on the door.
"Little Bai, are you awake?"
"Sister A-Fu, come in." The moment she spoke, her voice was hoarse and her throat burned.
A-Fu pushed open the door and took one look at Fu Peibai before knowing she was ill.
"You lie down first. I'll go find a physician."
Fu Peibai quickly spoke up. "No need, Sister A-Fu. I just caught a chill. Please just buy a few packets of cold medicine for me."
A-Fu knew Fu Peibai's temperament. She agreed and turned to leave the room.
Fu Peibai lay on the bed with her eyes closed, resting. Before long, she heard the door open again. She was wondering how Sister A-Fu had returned so quickly when she felt something cool against her forehead.
Her eyes flew open. Lu Yanran sat by the bed, one hand holding back her wide sleeve, the back of her other hand resting on Fu Peibai's forehead.
She felt surprised and flattered, but even more surprised by how cold that hand was.
She caught Lu Yanran's hand and asked in a raspy voice, "Peak Master, why is your hand so cold?"
Lu Yanran withdrew her hand and pulled the quilt up around her. "Worry about yourself first. Look how feverish you are."
"I'm fine. Peak Master, has your cold condition flared up again?"
Lu Yanran seemed unwilling to discuss this and deliberately avoided the topic. "You don't need to return to Xingyang. Stay here for now. When the Martial Supervision Hall is completed next month, return to the mountain with us."
Fu Peibai wanted to press further, but Lu Yanran had already risen and left the room.
The words "Peak Master" remained stuck in her throat. She lay weakly on the bed, frustrated that she could do nothing for the Peak Master.
After a while, A-Fu returned with a bowl of brewed medicine. Fu Peibai drank it in one go, bitterness filling her mouth.
"Sister A-Fu, has the Peak Master's cold condition flared up?"
A-Fu took the bowl and sighed. "Yes. Because this place sits low in the terrain, it's damp and cold, and it's the depths of winter. The Peak Master's condition flared up after just half a month here. Her hands and feet are freezing cold. Even keeping a brazier burning around the clock doesn't help. She doesn't say anything, but I know her body must be suffering."
Fu Peibai asked with a pained expression, "Is there no way to cure it completely?"
A-Fu shook her head. "The Sect Master once sought out many renowned physicians across the land to treat the Peak Master's cold condition, but without exception, they all said the cold poison has penetrated her internal organs, blood, and meridians. Medicine cannot cure it. They only prescribed some gentle restorative medicines for her to take when the condition flares up each year, which would warm her body slightly. In the first year or two, the medicine still had some effect, but these past two years it hasn't worked, so she stopped taking it."
"Then is there truly no other way?"
"I've heard that in the southwestern Gu Region, there's an herb called the Lingxiao Flower. Its nature is hot, and when used in medicine, it can reverse the balance of yin and yang within the body and cure all stubborn illnesses. Last year, the Sect Master sent people deep into the southwest to search for this herb, but they returned empty-handed. After that, nothing more came of it."
Fu Peibai asked no more questions, but in her heart she silently made plans to one day travel to the southwestern Gu Region to find this Lingxiao Flower.
"Alright, I won't keep you talking. You rest now."
Fu Peibai nodded, lay back down, and forced herself to close her eyes. She then slept deeply for the entire day, only waking in the evening.
She sat up and felt her head was much clearer. The fever had also left her body. She quickly got out of bed, dressed properly, and ran to stand outside Lu Yanran's door.
Through the crack in the door, she could see the faint glow of the brazier burning inside.
"Peak Master."
"Enter."
Fu Peibai walked into the room and saw Lu Yanran sitting at the table in only thin inner robes, writing something. Not far away, the windows were thrown wide open.
She strode forward and closed the windows, leaving only a small crack for air, then removed her outer robe and draped it over Lu Yanran's shoulders.
"Peak Master, why are you sitting here dressed so thinly?" Her tone was half worried, half reproachful.
Lu Yanran's hand did not stop moving. The brush set down a character on the paper.
Fu Peibai had no time to look at what was written on the white paper. Anxiety filled her brow and eyes. "Peak Master, please go rest on the bed. It's cold here."
Lu Yanran didn't even blink. She continued writing with focused attention. Only after a complete line of poetry was set down did she set aside her brush and look up to examine Fu Peibai.
"Fully recovered?"
"Almost completely."
"Sturdy constitution."
"Peak Master... please go rest on the bed."
Lu Yanran rose and walked to the window, pushing the two wooden panels fully open again.
Cold wind swept into the room once more, making the brazier's fire flicker.
"Peak Master!" Fu Peibai called out anxiously, yet didn't dare go against Lu Yanran by closing the window.
Lu Yanran paid her no attention. She leaned slightly against the window railing, gazing out at the bleak and desolate night.
Fu Peibai stood behind her. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Looking at the thin figure before her, she suddenly felt that the Peak Master seemed very lonely. The feeling was jarring, because clearly the Peak Master was revered by all. Whether appearance, background, or ability, everything about her was admired. If she wished, all manner of people could surround her.
Yet now Lu Yanran stood alone by the window, most of her body hidden in the darkness, giving off a sense of desolate loneliness.
Fu Peibai swallowed unconsciously and reached her hand forward. Just as she was about to touch that slender shoulder, the other person suddenly spoke.
"Fu Peibai."
She yanked her hand back, her heart pounding wildly. "Wh-what is it, Peak Master?"
Lu Yanran didn't turn around. Her voice was light and floating. "Don't speak. Just stand with me for a while."
Fu Peibai's eyes widened slightly. Although the Peak Master's tone and voice were no different from usual, to her ears now it revealed a trace of fragility.
She gave a firm "mm" and stood straight.
After the two stood by the window for a while, Lu Yanran finally turned and went to the bed. Fu Peibai quickly closed the window and followed her, then carefully tucked the quilt around the person on the bed.
The dim candlelight illuminated Lu Yanran's face, softening her slender, cool features considerably. Fu Peibai felt her heart grow tender. She spoke softly, "Peak Master, please sleep now."
Lu Yanran's entire body and neck were covered securely. She felt a bit stifled, but didn't resist the substantial weight. She parted her lips slightly and called out an almost inaudible "Fu Peibai."
Fu Peibai crouched down by the bed, her eyes level with Lu Yanran's.
"Mm?"
"Your birthday is at the end of this month, isn't it?"
Fu Peibai had nearly forgotten this herself. Only now did she remember, so she nodded.
"Is there a birthday gift you want?"
Fu Peibai felt a flutter of happiness. Could the Peak Master be planning to give her a gift? The corners of her mouth curved upward. "There's nothing particular I want."
"Then how did you spend your birthdays before?"
Fu Peibai thought for a moment. "My mother would make me a bowl of longevity noodles. Then our whole family would go to the county town for a day, eating good food, watching shadow plays, circus performances, things like that."
"There's nothing like that here," Lu Yanran said indifferently.
"That's alright. Just knowing the Peak Master remembers my birthday makes me very happy. I don't need a gift or any special celebration."
Lu Yanran gave a soft "mm" and seemed to be getting drowsy. Her eyelids closed slightly.
Fu Peibai felt warm inside. She rose, increased the fire in the brazier, and opened the window a bit more for air before withdrawing from the room.
In the days that followed, she remained at the manor. A-Fu and Xing Guang went out daily to supervise the Martial Supervision Hall, so the responsibility of caring for the Peak Master naturally fell to her.
Though it was called caring for her, Lu Yanran didn't like others fussing over her, so Fu Peibai was actually quite idle most of the time. Basically she just brought meals to Lu Yanran's room during the day, then prepared hot water for bathing. Apart from that, Lu Yanran rarely sought her out.
Even though she very much wanted to stay close to Lu Yanran, she couldn't find a proper excuse. She could only use her free time to practice martial arts in the courtyard.
The boxing technique Meng Yan had taught her was already familiar. Now she picked up a withered branch and practiced sword forms with her still somewhat clumsy left hand. There was no proper technique to speak of, but combined with the boxing footwork, it looked rather spirited.
She was practicing earnestly when the sound of a door opening came from behind.
"If you practice like this, you won't last three moves against the Sect Master at next year's Founding Celebration."
It was the Peak Master!
Fu Peibai tossed aside the branch, wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, and ran over to Lu Yanran in a few steps, grinning. "Success depends on human effort. There are still two months left. I can try my best."
"Have you learned sword before?"
"No."
"Who taught you this set of movements?"
Fu Peibai blinked guiltily and whispered, "I just happened to see it in an ancient book by chance."
Lu Yanran didn't press further. She walked to the stone table and was about to sit down when Fu Peibai called out loudly, "Wait."
Fu Peibai removed her outer robe, folded it, and placed it on the cold stone bench. Only then did she smile and gesture for Lu Yanran to sit.
Lu Yanran didn't refuse. Looking at the youth flashing white teeth, she said, "Continue."
Fu Peibai paused, then realized the Peak Master wanted her to continue practicing sword. She picked up the branch and began practicing in earnest. But this time she seemed somewhat distracted, because a gaze remained fixed on her, and the owner of that gaze was enough to make her mind wander just by being present.
Soon a clump of snow struck her arm, not too hard, not too soft. Lu Yanran rose and walked over, her expression serious. "Losing focus while practicing martial arts is a grave taboo."
Only then did Fu Peibai gather her thoughts. She concentrated her mind and practiced sword seriously. After a moment, she felt Lu Yanran move closer, a hand resting on her shoulder.
"Sink your qi into your right hip. Relax your right knee and hip. Lower your body. Let your relaxed shoulder drive the sword downward in a chopping motion. Power flows through the lower edge of the blade. Inhale."
Fu Peibai realized the Peak Master was instructing her. She held her breath and followed the directions.
"When thrusting upward, your hand should be level with your shoulder. Both arms are slightly bent."
"Center your body. The stepping motion should be moderate, no more than one foot's length."
"First relax your right hip, bend your right knee. Lean your back slightly. Move your center in a backward arc to gather power. Inhale."
The two continued like this, one practicing, one instructing, until snow began to fall from the sky. Only then did Fu Peibai set down the branch. She breathed slightly, a bright and happy smile appearing on her face.
"Peak Master, thank you."
"What I just taught you are only points to note when using a sword. They don't count as proper sword techniques. Swordsmanship has a long and storied history, containing countless movement methods, internal techniques, and applications. You've barely entered the gate, and you started later than others. You must be diligent and disciplined in the future, studying well."
"Yes!"