Back to the Countryside

Chapter 80:回去

[Go Back]

The longer the day he stayed here in Qi Yue’s place, the more Shen Juming felt that he should not drag him back to Jiang Hu, spoiling the tranquillity he deserved.

He looked up at the full moon in the pitch-black night sky and sighed lightly. He was afraid that Gǔ Zhǔ (The Valley Master) would be disappointed that he could not bring back the disciple he missed and concerned the most.

“You’re not sleeping, what are you doing by standing here?” Yun Su, who had gotten up to go to the toilet, saw the person standing in the courtyard as soon as he pulled open the door. He walked over to him with a frown, “Aren’t you cold?”

Shen Juming shook his head and said to him, “Xiao Su, we’ll stay here for two days more then we’ll leave and go back home!”

Hearing this, Yun Su was stunned, after that he understood it clearly ; he had seen it all these days that his Shi Xiong was doing very well nowadays, if they insisted on making the person go back, it would only cause trouble (as if they were looking for trouble when everything is perfectly fine), “I understand.”

When he saw how straightforward he was, Shen Juming lifted his hand and stroked his head. Although this Shi Di of his was not particularly good-tempered, he was not an annoying troublemaker. He was always obedient when it came to serious matters.

Feeling the warmth on his head, Yun Su blushed slightly, his heart thankful that it was night time so the other party could not see (his expression) very clearly, “It’s just that grandpa still has to continue to work hard and take the position of valley master for a few more years!”

Ever since his parents died, his grandfather’s health has been deteriorating year by year. Even though the valley was full of sage doctors, they could not heal the pain of losing his son. Fortunately, he was with him all the time which gave the other party some support.

“There are many outstanding and capable people in the valley, perhaps not as good as Shi Xiong but there is no shortage of those who are capable of taking on the role of Valley Master, so you don’t have to worry too much!” After saying that, he patted the head under his hand again, “There will definitely be an ideal husband for you!”

Yun Su’s expression stiffened as he waved his hand away fiercely, gritting his teeth and glaring at him, “Are you my father? It’s not your business to worry about my marriage matters!”

Seeing the person leave panting with rage, Shen Juming held the hand that had been opened, feeling somehow empty in his heart. He then smiled and shook his head. In the end, he still had a child’s temper ; whenever he said he was angry, he would do so.

It had been the case since the past, the other side had always been angry with him for unexplainable reasons. However, he treated his other Shi Xiong and Shi Di quite normal. For some time, he thought the other party hated him.

Later, as he grew older, he began to understand that Yun Su was only more affectionately (family love) dependent on him. That was why he was always in a bad mood with him. He then vowed to treat and loved him as if he were his own little brother.

Now he was almost sixteen years old, waiting until the time he got married and when he became someone else’s Fu Lang, the person he would act spoiled to and the one he would spill his temper to would no longer be himself ba!

Thinking of this, he sighed again, suddenly feeling melancholy inside. Perhaps this was what it felt like to have the little brother he had loved for so many years married off to someone else ba! It was slightly obscure and bitter.

Before Shen Juming could mention to Qi Yue about leaving, a snow-white pigeon flew into their courtyard, landing on the ground and obediently stopping in its tracks.

When he heard the noise, he lifted the curtain and came out of the house, Shen Juming frowned at the sight of the white pigeon. This was a carrier pigeon bred in Qi Du Valley, used to deliver news. It was seldom used when there was nothing.

He walked over and picked it up, removed the small bamboo tube tied to his belly, and with a wave of his hand set it free again.

He pulled out the tiny piece of paper from the tube and spread it out. The words on it made his pupils shrink. He repeatedly confirmed it several times before he was sure he had read it correctly. His expression instantly looked complicated.

“Shi Xiong, is it a letter from the valley?” Yun Su also came out of the room, so the sound of vibrating wings that he heard just now must have been the sound of a carrier pigeon, right?

Shen Juming tucked the note into his sleeve. Turning around, he smiled as if nothing had happened and said,”No, I don’t know where the bird came from, as soon as I came over, it’s get scared away.”

Yun Su didn’t suspect much. Seeing that his face was a bit unpleasant, he thought he was cold so he said, “Then why are you still standing there? Come in quickly!”

Shen Juming followed him into the house, all sorts of thoughts were churning in his mind. He was unable to calm down, once this matter was out, it was even impossible for them to stay here much longer, the valley must be in a mess!

“Shen Shi Di, come with me to make another pot of tea!” Qi Yue suddenly called out to him as he got up straight away, leaving the room without waiting for him.

He knew in his heart that he could not hide this matter from the other party, so he immediately followed him to the kitchen.

Yun Su gave them an inexplicable look and stopped paying attention to them, moving closer beside He Ling to watch him embroider flowers. His hands were never good at this kind of work, either embroidering the wrong thread or piercing his own hands.

“What kind of news did you hide from Yun Su?” As soon as he entered the kitchen, Qi Yue asked straightforwardly. He had heard the conversation between the two of them and from the expression of the person in front of him, the situation did not seem to be good.

Shen Juming took out a slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to him, “If Xiao Su knew, I am afraid that he would be worried.”

Qi Yue finished reading the contents in it with a sullen face and then casually threw the letter into the stove, a cold smile hanging on his lips, “It seems that someone can’t hold back and has started to plot for the position of the valley master!”

Seeing that the other party had the same thought as himself, Shen Juming said, “Now in this kind of situation, with the absence of both Shi Xiong who is the direct disciple of the Valley Master and Xiao Su who is the grandson, it’s reasonable and fair for several capable and outstanding Shi Xiongs to act on behalf of the Valley Master but we are not sure which one of them is the one who did it! He also really chose such good timing to do it!”

[亲传弟子: direct disciple, usually to describe the disciple that get things personally passed down by their master and they have a very close relationship with him. ]

“The fact that you came looking for me should have leaked out. The other party must be anxious in their hearts!” As the most favoured successor in the heart of the Valley Master, once he returned, then the others would not have another chance, so this person had to hold the position of the Valley Master in his hands before that.

Shen Juming also had this suspicion in mind. He did not take extra precautions when he explained to the valley master that he was coming out to look for Qi Yue. They did not feel that this was some kind of secret that could not be disclosed. However, he did not expect that someone would be driven to desperate action by this.

[狗急跳墙/ gǒu jí tiào qiáng : a cornered dog will jump over the wall (idiom) / to be driven to desperate action. ]

Qi Yue’s eyes were sunken in thought for a long time before he looked at him with an unspoken expression and said, “Pack up today and we will go back to the valley tomorrow morning.”

“Shi Xiong?” Shen Juming looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to make this kind of decision, “Then what about Xiong Fu Lang?”

“Naturally, he will come with me!” How could Qi Yue leave his little Fu Lang here alone? This trip would take a lot of time so how could he be at ease then?

“But we’ve had a long travel-worn journey, moreover Xiong Fu Lang is pregnant, so I’m afraid it’s not inappropriate ba?” It was a long journey from here to Qi Du Valley. It would take nearly a month by carriage. Such a long and difficult trek journey would definitely be unbearable (unpleasant)!

Qi Yue naturally thought of these, but as long as he took care of him attentively, it would not be a big problem, “Do you have no confidence in my medical skills or in your medical skills?”

Shen Juming was stunned. That’s right! There were two doctors accompanying him, how could they not be able to take care of him? Besides that, they were not ordinary doctors. His heart was relieved at that moment, “What Shi Xiong said is right!”

After they went back to the hall, they told the two who were still unaware of this decision. Yun Su’s eyes widened, “Shi Xiong, why did you suddenly change your mind?”

Qi Yue lifted the hem of his upper garment and sat down. Looking at him, he said, “I haven’t seen my Shi Fu (Master/Teacher) for a long time, so I’ve been thinking about him. I will only be visiting this time and will not stay longer.”

Yun Su felt in his heart that something was strange. Previously he had that kind of determined attitude, saying that he would not go back no matter what but suddenly he was going to visit his grandfather, somehow there was always a feeling that something was wrong.

“Alright, go back to your room and pack your things! Don’t ask any more questions!” Regardless of his doubts, Qi Yue waved his hand and shooed him out. He had made his decision so there was no need to explain it to him so much.

Shen Juming had the good sense to drag the person away, although Yun Su would know about it sooner or later, but if he could, he would like to hide it for a while, for the purpose that he would not be full of worries all around the way.

Once they had left, the central room was peaceful again. Qi Yue seized He Ling who had been smiling at him without saying a word and said to him, “Do you blame me that I didn’t discuss it with you and made the decision by myself?”

The person in his arms shook his head and put his hand on his arm and patted him, “Xiang Gong, you must have your own reason for suddenly to do something like that. It is enough for me that you are willing to let me stay with you.”

“(If) you are spoiling me like this, however you are going to spoil me rotten.” Qi Yue gently kissed the top of his head and held him even tighter.

“It’s good to be spoiled!” He Ling lifted his face to look at him from the bottom up, smiling a little cunningly, “If I spoil Xiang Gong so much that no one can stand it, then you will be mine alone!”

Qi Yue stroked his cheek and kissed the plum blossom mark’s space between his eyebrows, “Even if Fu Lang doesn’t overly spoil me, Wei Fu still will be yours alone, no one can snatch it away.”

“Really?” He Ling rolled his eyes. Suddenly he reached out to grab his front lapel and said, “I’ve heard from Yun Su Shi Di that there were many people who adored you before. Tell me honestly, have you ever fallen for one or two of them?”

Qi Yue looked at He Ling who pretended to be sulking and stared at him, unaware of how seductive he was, Qi Yue’s eyebrows slightly raised because of this. Qi Yue took his hand in his grip and moved it to his thumping heart and said,”This heart has always beat only for Fu Lang. If you don’t believe me, do you want to cut it open and see?”

“Don’t say such things!” He Ling wrapped his arms around his neck and pressed his body against him, it was meant to be a joke, he didn’t want to hear him say that, “I don’t like to hear it!”

Qi Yue exerted some strength and made him sit down on his lap, patted him on the back, “Okay, I’ll say no more! It’s all my fault for talking nonsense.”

Even in words, his little Fu Lang didn’t want to hear that he was hurt. He understood that in his heart but these words were also his real words (he also meant what he said). His heart was surely full of him.

“This time, It’s a long journey to go to the valley, I’m afraid it’s going to be hard for Ah Ling!” If not for the reason that something had happened, Qi Yue wouldn’t have put him through all of this, “Someone conspire to murder Shi Fu and made him unconscious if I don’t go back this time, my heart would not be able in peace.’

He Ling stopped moving as he let go of the hand he had wrapped around him and looked at him with a heartfelt look (felt distressed for him), “God protects the good man, he will surely be fine!”

No wonder Xiang Gong was in a hurry to go back, that valley master had taught him since he was a child, raised him up and toward the other party he had such a great favor as heavy as a mountain. If anything happened to the other side, his heart would surely be in pain.

[恩重如山 ēn zhòng rú shān /favours weighty as a mountain / a great debt of gratitude]

“For the time being, we will keep this matter from Yun Su. You must not mention this in front of him, just say that we are going on a leisure trip.” Qi Yue did not forget to make it clear for him so that he must not leak anything out.

He Ling nodded his head thinking of that person who despite being arrogant and willful (sometimes shy and considerate), was simple-minded and sighed in his heart, if he knew that something had happened to his grandfather, he would probably be worried to die!