Martial World Full of Disguises

44: Birthday Gift

After Lu Qingwan's visit to the Cangqiong training grounds, Fu Peibai keenly noticed that others treated her with considerably more courtesy. Not exactly warm, but when they occasionally encountered her, they would take the initiative to greet her.

The Four Halls Master, who usually seized every opportunity to suppress and scold her, also stopped giving her trouble. She knew well the reason behind this. On one hand, she felt somewhat fortunate that her days had become much easier. On the other hand, she was rather troubled by her relationship with Lu Qingwan.

Just like that, the days quickly arrived at the fourth month. Grass grew long, orioles flew, and ten thousand flowers vied for spring. Everywhere was a scene of overflowing spring vitality.

The fifth day of the fourth month was Lu Yanran's birthday. Naturally, Fu Peibai hadn't forgotten. Several days earlier, she had already been worrying about what birthday gift to give Lu Yanran. For this purpose, she specially and solemnly called Xie Jingming and Wei Xiao to sit at the table. The three looked at each other.

She asked with the utmost seriousness, "What do you think would be suitable to give a woman as a birthday gift?"

Xie Jingming and Wei Xiao glanced at each other and asked, "Is it for the Second Young Miss?"

Fu Peibai rubbed her forehead and sighed low. Since that incident, not to mention others, even these two people closest to her on Cangqiong Peak believed she and the Second Young Miss definitely had romantic feelings between them. Otherwise, how could she have carried an unmarried young lady all the way back to Qingliao Peak?

"I've already said, the Second Young Miss and I don't have that kind of relationship, and we won't develop that kind of relationship either."

Wei Xiao shrugged and said casually, "Then who are you giving it to? Some woman on one of the peaks? Or someone you were involved with below the mountain?"

"Why do you care so much? Just tell me what would be good to give."

Xie Jingming stammered, "F-for women, they generally like, like gold, silver, and jade objects, jewelry and accessories, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, th-things like that."

Fu Peibai thought about it and felt these things lacked originality, so she shook her head.

"Then give according to her preferences. Whatever she likes, you give her that," Wei Xiao suggested.

Fu Peibai frowned in thought. The Peak Master had always been cold and distant. She had never seen her show interest in anything, nor could she discern any preferences.

After pondering for a moment, she thought she might as well ask someone close to the Peak Master.

She acted immediately. During the midday break, she went to the back mountain of Chaoquan Peak. Before Meng Yan could even give her a warm hug and express his longing, she asked where Sister A-Fu was. After getting an answer, she turned and ran.

Meng Yan stood frozen in place, shouting at Fu Peibai's gradually retreating figure, "You heartless boy!"

Fu Peibai paid no heed to his voice. She could only hear the wind whistling past her ears and her heart beating ever more violently as she drew closer to Bamboo Grove Cottage.

Before long, she ran to Bamboo Grove Cottage. Panting heavily, she asked the guards, "Two big brothers, is Sister A-Fu here?"

"Wait a moment." One guard spoke, then turned and entered the courtyard. After saying something through the door, A-Fu pushed open the door and came out. She saw Fu Peibai outside the courtyard at a glance and walked over in surprise. "Little Bai, why are you here? Is today a rest day?"

Fu Peibai's chest still rose and fell slightly. Her gaze looked past A-Fu into the room. "Has the P-Peak Master come out of seclusion?"

"Not yet. The Peak Master should come out before the Centennial Founding Celebration. Do you need something from the Peak Master?"

"No, I came to find you, Sister A-Fu."

"Me? What for?"

Fu Peibai glanced twice at the guards and whispered, "Sister A-Fu, is it convenient to step aside to talk?"

A-Fu nodded and followed Fu Peibai to a quiet part of the forest. Seeing Fu Peibai's hesitant expression, she couldn't help growing curious. "What's wrong, Little Bai?"

Fu Peibai touched the tip of her nose in embarrassment, her eyes wandering. "It's just... the Peak Master's birthday is on the fifth of this month, right?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"I was just thinking that the Peak Master has helped me so much before. I ought to give the Peak Master a birthday gift. I wanted to ask if you know what the Peak Master likes, Sister A-Fu?"

A-Fu smiled when she heard this. She thought Fu Peibai had come to find her for some great matter, but it turned out to be just for this.

"Little Bai is thoughtful. But in the four years since I came up the mountain, I've never seen the Peak Master celebrate a birthday. As for what the Peak Master likes, I don't know either. The Peak Master has few desires and seems uninterested in worldly things."

Fu Peibai nodded in disappointment, then returned to the back mountain. Meng Yan popped out from the side and hooked his arm around her neck, bending her over. "You kid, you come back and run straight toward the Peak Master's place. You forgot everything I told you last time, didn't you?"

Fu Peibai quickly straightened up. After checking that no one was around, she let out a breath. "Brother Meng, don't be so loose with your words. If others hear it, it'll only cause trouble."

Meng Yan symbolically patted his own mouth. "Look at this mouth of mine." He put his arm around Fu Peibai's shoulder. "Let's not talk about this. Come on, it's mealtime. Let's go eat."

Fu Peibai nodded. She happened to have something she wanted to ask Meng Yan.

The two got their food from the kitchen and went to Meng Yan's room to eat. Meng Yan sat carelessly, taking a bite of meat with a bite of rice, eating happily. Fu Peibai watched him like this, finding it hard to associate him with the renowned, otherworldly Mingxiao Sword Sect. After struggling internally for a good while, she finally asked, "Brother Meng, were you a disciple of the Mingxiao Sect?"

Meng Yan's chopsticks paused mid-reach. He set down his chopsticks and raised an eyebrow. "Your movement technique was recognized, wasn't it?"

"Yes. They said it's one of the Mingxiao Sect's lost techniques, the Boxing Technique."

Meng Yan's expression grew serious. "You didn't tell anyone I taught you, did you?"

"No. I promised you, so I would never tell anyone else."

Meng Yan nodded. "Yes, I was trained in the Mingxiao Sect."

Fu Peibai wasn't too surprised by this, but she still had a belly full of questions. "Then why did you..."

Meng Yan gave a self-mocking smile and asked for her. "You want to ask why I became a mere steward of servants at Chaoquan Peak, right?"

Fu Peibai nodded.

"The past is all like floating clouds. I don't want to bring it up again. In short, there is no more Mingxiao in this world, and I am no longer a Mingxiao disciple." When Meng Yan said this, his face revealed a faint wistfulness that didn't match his appearance.

Fu Peibai sensibly closed her mouth, and the two finished this meal in silence.

After the meal, she prepared to return to Cangqiong Peak, but was stopped by Ding Yi, who came rushing over. Ding Yi had a distressed look on his face. "A-Pei, tell me, how can I make a woman like me? You're a woman, so naturally you know what women think. Tell me quickly."

Fu Peibai looked helpless and shook her head. "I don't know either."

Ding Yi grew despondent. His grayish-brown pupils showed a hint of dejection. "Will Sister A-Fu like me? I look this ugly. I'm not worthy of her in any way."

Fu Peibai straightened her expression and said, "Ding Yi, I've heard that in the southwestern Gu Region, there's a miraculous herb that can smooth out skin scars and all marks. I'll find it for you in the future, alright?"

Ding Yi's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really. I promise you."

Ding Yi stepped forward and gently embraced Fu Peibai. He said in a deep voice, "A-Pei, thank you."

Fu Peibai hugged him back and lightly patted his back. "I'm the one who should thank you. Because of you, I'm able to stand here now."

The two separated and smiled at each other.

After that, Fu Peibai went to see Yun Ruoling, Huo Jiaran, and other acquaintances. After exchanging pleasantries, she timed her return perfectly to make it back to the Cangqiong training grounds for martial practice.

Another afternoon of sweating profusely. After dinner, she returned to her room. From somewhere, she had produced a section of bamboo tube. Holding a wooden saw, she diligently worked at the bamboo.

Xie Jingming pushed open the door and saw this scene. He asked curiously, "A-Pei, wh-what are you making?"

Fu Peibai didn't raise her head. While measuring something on the bamboo tube, she replied, "Making a little trinket."

"What is it?"

"A wooden hairpin." After saying this, she looked up and smiled at Xie Jingming.

Xie Jingming was surprised. "You, you know how to do this kind of, hand-handicraft?"

"I don't. Just wanted to try."

Xie Jingming nodded and didn't disturb her further.

Fu Peibai worked for two hours and finally managed to cut out a few usable pieces of bamboo. She bent over the desk, and by the dim yellow candlelight, carefully carved patterns onto them with a small knife.

Night quietly arrived. She focused on the object in her hands. Originally, she wanted to carve some patterns onto the wooden hairpin, but her skills were poor. Either she used too much force and snapped the hairpin, or she used too little force and left no visible marks.

In the end, she had no choice but to give up and settle for second best. She made a wooden hairpin with a slender, pointed tip and a rounded end, without any carving or decoration. The surface wasn't polished and appeared somewhat rough. It gave off an entirely rustic air. The only thing that could possibly be considered distinctive was that if one leaned close and smelled, one could detect a faint fragrance of bamboo.

This was the gift she had prepared for the Peak Master after half a day of hard thinking. In her heart, the Peak Master was like this tall, upright bamboo with its noble character, elegant and refined, standing apart from the world. Something made by hand held even more meaning.

She turned the wooden hairpin over in her hand, feeling excited for a moment. She didn't even care that Xie Jingming had already gone to sleep. Holding the hairpin, she walked to his bedside and gently shook Xie Jingming.

"Jingming, wake up."

Xie Jingming rubbed his sleepy eyes and woke up. His voice was somewhat soft. "Wh-what is it?"

Fu Peibai waved the hairpin before his eyes. "Take a look. How is it?"

Xie Jingming hadn't fully woken up yet, and the candlelight was too dim. He couldn't see clearly what was before him. He mumbled, "A-Pei, wh-why are you waving chopsticks in front of my eyes?"

Fu Peibai's smile instantly froze on her face. She murmured, "Chopsticks?"

Only then did Xie Jingming fully wake up. He blinked his eyes, snatched the wooden hairpin from Fu Peibai's hand, examined it carefully, and explained, "A-A-Pei, I didn't mean that. I, I saw wrong just now. Now, now that I look at this wooden hairpin, it's indeed distinctive. Different from ordinary things."

Fu Peibai smiled weakly. Actually, she knew herself how the wooden hairpin looked. She had just been excited earlier. Now that she had calmed down, looking at this hairpin, it was indeed not presentable enough to give.

"You don't need to comfort me. I naturally know what this hairpin is like. Sigh."

Xie Jingming's face flushed red. Afraid that Fu Peibai would be disappointed, he continued to comfort her. "Gi-gifts are precious because of the thought. You, you made it yourself. It contains your heart's blood. Naturally, it ca-can't compare to ordinary hairpins. The young lady you want to give it to will def-definitely like it."

Fu Peibai's face regained its spirit. "Really?"

Xie Jingming nodded heavily.

Fu Peibai took back the hairpin and carefully tucked it into her chest. "Sorry for disturbing you, Jingming. I apologize. You go back to sleep."

She lay on the bed, unable to contain her joy. By moonlight, she examined the wooden hairpin carefully. The more she looked, the happier she became. She couldn't help imagining how the Peak Master would look wearing this wooden hairpin. Surely it would be extremely beautiful. But then, the Peak Master was also extremely beautiful even with her hair down. She just thought randomly like this, the hairpin clutched in her hand as she gradually fell asleep.