Love & Redemption
Chapter 88 - 45: Fuyu Island (Part 4)

Chapter 88: Chapter 45: Fuyu Island (Part 4)

Chapter 45: Fuyu Island (IV) Revision

After Lady Dongfang had left, Xuanji and Yu Sifeng focused all their attention on Manager Ouyang, for two reasons: first, they wanted to see what kind of person could make such a man as Dongfang Qingqi suffer in love; second, they were curious to know what qualities he possessed that could make a fine woman so enamoured.

Ouyang, expressionless, poured a cup of wine for himself first and said in a deep, respectful voice, "Ouyang toasts the two young heroes."

Yu Sifeng laughed and said, "Thanks, Manager Ouyang... If I may be so bold, to call you Brother Ouyang, you are so young and yet the chief steward of an island, that’s truly admirable."

He spoke to probe for a reaction, but to their surprise, Ouyang remained as indifferent as if he were made of stone, stolid and repeatedly expressing his unworthiness, emulating the appearance of an honest man. The two had previously thought that someone with an honest face like his must surely be eloquent like a lotus, which would have allowed him to negotiate between both the Island Master and his wife without fault. It turned out they were wrong.

Dongfang Qingqi patted Ouyang on the shoulder, and as he was about to raise his head to drink, the cup in his hand shook from the pat, making him cough as the wine went down the wrong way, and the scars on his face reddened.

"Hahaha, Ouyang, my Ouyang, don’t be so stiff! How can a manly man like you choke on a drink? I’ve told you to practice with me when you have the time, but you just refuse... Remember... what’s that saying, ah yes, ’a scholar is good for nothing! It’s better if you practice swordsmanship with me!"

Ouyang finally coughed up the wine that had gone down his windpipe, and while shaking his head and with a hoarse voice, he said, "Thank you, Master, for your kindness, but Ouyang is not one for martial arts..."

Dongfang Qingqi sighed and shook his head, "You have been working diligently for me on the island, and now that you’re about to leave, I haven’t given you any benefit. Ouyang, you must know that out in the world, many rely on their strength to bully the weak. You’re a scholar without the power to truss a chicken; how can I rest easy letting you go?"

When the two on the other side heard he was leaving, their expressions changed. Yu Sifeng quickly said, "What, is Manager Ouyang leaving Fuyu Island?"

Ouyang, stammering, nodded and said in a low voice, "My elder brother has fallen seriously ill, and our mother is elderly; I can’t help but worry, so I must return home."

So, he was indeed leaving! No wonder Lady Dongfang seemed so melancholic; it must have been her recent emotional instability that allowed Dongfang Island Master to sense something was amiss. It was a pity that he had treated Ouyang like a brother but never suspected him, misguidedly letting his disciples bear the brunt of his misunderstanding.

Dongfang Qingqi said with a grave voice, "I told you to bring your mother and elder brother to the island. Qingrong and I would take care of them, but you wouldn’t agree. Could it be that Fuyu Island has wronged you in any way that you are in such a hurry to leave?"

Ouyang quickly bowed and clasped his hands in front of him, "Please, Master, do not misunderstand! Our ancestral grave is in our hometown; how could we relocate it without cause? Besides, one wishes to return to their roots in the end, and they do not wish to leave their homeland. As nice as Fuyu Island is, it is too far, and the elderly can’t withstand the travails of travel... I am ashamed to have disappointed Master’s generous kindness."

"Forget it, have it your way!" Dongfang Qingqi waved his hand, clearly disheartened, and lamented, "You’ve helped me greatly over the years; do not mention Master to me again, just call me big brother!"

There was a painful look in Ouyang’s eyes, his throat choked up, and after a long time, he managed to say in a low voice, "Big brother... I..."

Dongfang Qingqi picked up the wine jug, filled Ouyang’s cup to the brim, and said with a smile, "Why be sentimental? A man’s ambition lies in all directions. Come, Ouyang, let’s drink this cup! Big brother wishes you great success in your future, to enjoy rich rewards and high honors!"

The two of them drank down their cups in one gulp, both feeling exuberant.

By the time Dongfang Qingqi had nearly finished the tenth jar of Baihua Qinglu Wine, Lady Dongfang came again. Surely still anxious, she came to check on him. Seeing her husband drunkenly sprawled over the stone table, already hazily out of his senses, she couldn’t help frowning and said, "Why did you drink so much again... You don’t take good care of your body!"

Dongfang Qingqi vaguely heard his wife speaking and couldn’t help but look up with a silly chuckle, murmuring, "Qingrong... Qingrong, you still care about me? You..."

Lady Dongfang sighed and turned to instruct the disciples outside the pavilion, "Your master has drunk too much. Take good care of him and escort him to his bedroom to rest, and have the kitchen prepare some sobering soup."

The disciples hurriedly agreed and came up to support him. Although Dongfang Qingqi was drunken and confused, deep down there was a string of regret, ashamed of his drunken behavior in front of his juniors, so he obediently let the disciples take him away, turning back with a smile and saying, "Si Feng, Little Xuanji... I enjoyed myself today. Next time, I’ll drink thirty jars with you and your master daddy!"

The two of them could only agree reluctantly, watching as only Lady Dongfang and Manager Ouyang remained in the pavilion, one staring straight at the other, the other pretending not to see, completely avoiding contact as he lowered his head to clean up the remaining dishes.

"I apologize for my rudeness, unable to hold my liquor, I shall go rest now."

Yu Sifeng saw that their remaining was superfluous at this point, so he quickly retreated, taking Xuanji with him. Both of them feigned the appearance of being drunk, staggering out and returning to their rooms.

Ouyang was slowly cleaning up the cups and saucers, looking as if he was completely unaware of the person staring at him from behind.

He always had an innocent demeanor of obliviousness. If you were anxious, he wouldn’t understand; if you were angry, he could only look at you helplessly; if you cried, he could only comfort you silently. He was like a tepid ball of water, feeling warm when it was cold, but chilling when it was hot.

Lady Dongfang’s gaze slowly drifted from his silent and expressionless face to his hands that were tidying up the cups and saucers. His hands were a bit unsteady, occasionally knocking chopsticks to the floor.

"You..." she began softly, dragging out the end of the word but not continuing.

Ouyang’s hands trembled slightly as he placed the cups on the table, turned around to bow and asked with great respect, "Does the Lady have any instructions for me?"

She frowned slightly, biting her lip, and said in a low voice, "Are you really leaving?"

Ouyang answered hesitantly, "I have been away from home for ten years, it’s time for me to return to care for my elderly mother."

She didn’t believe him, staring at him intently, her eyes brighter than twinkling stars. "What elderly mother... Where do you get an elderly mother from..." Her voice was soft, almost alluring.

Her beauty was like a sin, both intoxicating and frightening. Ouyang bowed his head and stepped back two paces, "Without the blood of a father and mother, how could I exist. The Lady jests, I naturally have parents too."

Lady Dongfang watched him with mournful eyes, brushed her hair that was as dark as clouds with her hand, and sighed, "Still deceiving me. Then I ask you, who is more important to you, your elderly mother or I? If you leave, I will die."

If you leave, I will die. She had said those words countless times, and now Ouyang could only give a bitter smile and murmured, "Lady, do not jest anymore, I... cannot bear the responsibility."

"What can’t you afford to take on? You liar."

Soft arms wrapped around his neck, and her warmth and fragrance snuggled up, enough to soften iron into submission.

Ouyang’s entire body stiffened as if frozen, his gaze lost in the distance at some nameless place, as if the peerless beauty in his arms was nothing but a piece of wood. She whispered many murmurs into his ear, meaningless yet enchanting.

He remained in a daze for a long while before he finally, gently pushed her away, looking down as he spoke, "Madam... please have some self-respect. The Island Master is a man of rare virtue, don’t betray true affection for a fleeting pleasure."

She wasn’t annoyed, instead, she chuckled, "I don’t want that great man; I want you."

Ouyang had grown accustomed to her frivolous and sensual ways of speaking and didn’t answer. He tidied up the cups and dishes on the stone table and picked them up, leaving the Octagonal Pavilion. Halfway out, he heard her laughing behind him, "It’s no use, I will follow you wherever you go. If you leave Fuyu Island, I will leave, too."

He paused and spoke softly, "Madam, please stop jesting and remember those innocent disciples who were expelled by the Island Master. They still don’t know the reason why they were cast out."

The extraordinary beauty in the pavilion was heartless, letting out a light laugh, "They were expelled because of me, which is an honor for them."

Ouyang said no more and left the Octagonal Pavilion quickly. As he walked far away, he heard someone singing, a voice somber and clear, stirring his soul. The wind carried only fragments to him, phrases like "a gentleman," "as gold and as tin, as jade and as beautiful gemstones." His wrist trembled involuntarily, almost causing the cups and dishes to shatter on the ground.

******

In the following days, since Dongfang Qingqi was busy with preparations for the Flower Pinning Conference, Xuanji and Yu Sifeng didn’t want to disturb him. They decided to explore the island’s unknown places and sceneries instead, discovering many picturesque views and living joyously.

The only concern they had was for the disciples left in Fuyu Town, waiting for news. Given that this matter wasn’t as straightforward and justified as demon hunting, it involved family affairs, and given that they were of a younger generation, it wasn’t easy to find an opportunity to broach the subject in the past few days.

Fortunately, the preparations for the Flower Pinning Conference were extensive. The martial arts arena in the east required refurbishing, and Dongfang Qingqi was busy there every day. For the time being, they lived in peace with the disciples without situations causing expulsions.

This day, Xuanji and Yu Sifeng got up early again, strolled around the mountains in the north, eating wild fruits when hungry and drinking from mountain streams when thirsty. Without stopping, they quickly climbed to the mountaintop.

Beneath them was a lush and verdant landscape, encompassed by a boundless blue jewel-like sea; the top of Fuyu Island. There was no shelter in any direction. The wind blew from all around, striking their faces and bodies. Their clothes fluttered as if they were flying.

"Si Feng, is the sea near Li Ze Palace just as beautiful?" Xuanji stood on the highest point, balancing on a small rock placed upon a large boulder. The position seemed precarious, the stone wobbled ominously, ready to slip into the abyss below, but she stood remarkably steady, not wobbling at all.

Yu Sifeng knew about her light body skills, so he wasn’t worried. He just smiled, "The sea near Li Ze Palace is even broader, but most of the year, it’s overcast, so the sea is gray. It’s rare to see such a stunning blue."

"Can I visit it sometime?" Xuanji asked casually, but regretted it immediately. She remembered the rules of Li Ze Palace; it seemed no woman was allowed inside, and the disciples were not permitted to freely interact with women, let alone marry.

"Uh, pretend I didn’t ask," she said, self-mockingly.

But Yu Sifeng slightly curved his lips, responding, "If you want to see it, I can take you there."

Xuanji froze for a moment before realizing he agreed to show her Li Ze Palace. She clapped her hands joyously, "Really, I can go? Then why did you say I couldn’t before!"

He didn’t reply, only saying, "There’s not much splendor there; I’m afraid you might be disappointed."

"It’s not really about disappointment or hope," Xuanji, feeling tired of standing, gracefully flipped off the rock, landing beside him to share the view of the vast sea below, "I just want to see the place where Si Feng grew up."

Yu Sifeng was taken aback for a moment before touching his nose and murmuring, "The place I grew up... you can’t go there anymore."

"Why?" Xuanji, with sharp ears, heard his muttering and quickly demanded clarity.

He considered it for a moment and then smiled, "Because that place definitely doesn’t allow outsiders. Especially..." He surveyed Xuanji from top to bottom, "Especially a young girl like you, definitely not allowed."

Li Ze Palace indeed had a bunch of strange and unheard-of rules. She couldn’t be bothered to ask anymore, spreading her arms to watch her sleeve ribbons flutter playfully, amusing herself with a faint smile.

"Is there really anywhere in this world you can’t go?" she said, "As long as it exists, you can go anywhere. Many people like to set their own territory, no one else allowed in, they don’t go out either. I used to do that, too. But now, I think it’s not a big deal. If you cling to that place, you only have that much freedom. But if you hold the whole world in your heart, then you’re the freest person. Don’t you think so, Si Feng?"

Yu Sifeng’s brows rose, showing an approving look, quite impressed, "Did you come up with that yourself?" He doubted it; Xuanji wasn’t someone inclined to deliberate on truths and philosophies of life.

As expected, she laughed, "No, my master said it; I’m just showing it off."

Yu Sifeng stretched lazily, glancing at the sky, "It’s getting late. Let’s go."

"Where to?"

"With the Dongfang Island Master so busy lately, we shouldn’t trouble him with everything. How about going to Fuyu Town for lunch? There’s a lot of delicious food there you haven’t tried yet."

When it came to food, Xuanji was naturally wholeheartedly in favor, but...

"How do we explain to those disciples from Fuyu Island?" They had promised to plead on their behalf, yet there hadn’t been a good opportunity to speak up for so many days.

Yu Sifeng shook his head, "No rush. Let them wait; we will ensure this matter is resolved before we leave Fuyu Island."