Love & Redemption
Chapter 93 - 50: Fuyu Island (9)

Chapter 93: Chapter 50: Fuyu Island (9)

Lady Dongfang smiled, pointing to her ear and spoke softly, "Take a closer look."

Dongfang Qingqi could only look closely but didn’t notice anything unusual. "What do you want me to see?"

Her pretty face turned stern, slightly annoyed, "You don’t care about me at all! Someone’s Bright Pearl earrings are missing one, and it was you who gifted them to me, only one remains."

Only then did Dongfang Qingqi notice the emptiness on her ear and couldn’t help but smile bitterly, "And here I thought you were going to say something else. How could an earring have fallen off? Do you remember where it could have fallen?"

Lady Dongfang thought for a moment before smiling, "I still saw it the day before yesterday; it must have fallen off yesterday when I went to the cellar to fetch some wine. Will you come with me to look for it?"

If it had been before, he would have joyfully accompanied the lady already, but today, for some reason, he was somewhat distracted and shook his head, "I’m still busy. You can go by yourself."

Lady Dongfang pouted prettily, tugging on his sleeve and acting playfully spoiled. Unexpectedly, he seemed to have forgotten how to be tender and cherish her, gently pushing her on the shoulder and said dismissively, "Stop making a fuss, I have serious matters to attend to." With that, he took a string of black iron keys from his waist and handed them to her, "You can go look for it yourself. Don’t forget to lock up when you leave."

She took the keys, her eyes twinkling with a curved smile, softly saying, "Go ahead with your business. I’m not a teenager anymore."

After speaking, she turned and left, only to hear him call out softly from behind, "Qingrong."

"Hmm?" She turned back.

He fell silent for a while, then said, "Never mind, just... don’t play too much."

*****

Ever since Xuanji obtained the Bengyu, her most common activity was to stare at it blankly, smile foolishly after a while, and then continue to stare.

Yu Sifeng had been with her day and night during this period and knew that when she was lost in thought, she wouldn’t care about anyone else, so he didn’t bother her. He had his own worries, and the source of his distress was the Undead Tree Bark Mask hidden in the breast pocket of his shirt.

The Vice Palace Master had already arrived at Fuyu Island; there was no room left for him to avoid her. Excuses could work today, but eventually, he had to face her tomorrow. He didn’t know how to explain it to anyone; it was unexplainable to anyone.

But now that Du Minxing and Chen Minjue were also on Fuyu Island, there were people to distract Xuanji. Seeing Xuanji smiling foolishly at the Bengyu, Chen Minjue couldn’t help but wonder, "Junior sister seems to really like the Bengyu, staring at it every day, are you talking to it?"

Xuanji smiled, caressing the sword gently, and after a while, she said, "Hmm... I don’t know why, but I feel a special affinity with it, as if it was meant to be mine."

Chen Minjue laughed, "That’s good, a weapon should be one that you are satisfied with. However, that you could be the master of the Bengyu surprised us too." He looked back at Du Minxing and added with a laugh, "You wouldn’t know, but the eldest brother also used it for a while."

Xuanji curiously looked towards Du Minxing, who nodded with a smile, "Master once took out this sword and let me use it. Unfortunately, my Qi didn’t match with it, and I couldn’t release any Sword Qi either, so I had to return it to Master."

Hearing that so many others couldn’t use it, yet she could, she was so proud that she felt like her nose was in the air, touching Bengyu back and forth dozens of times, not missing even a speck of dust.

She vaguely felt that she had experienced this scene before. The sword in her hand was radiantly beautiful, with a chill facing her, holding a white cloth in her hand, repeatedly wiping it. The blade always ended up spotlessly clean because she would wipe it every day as blood would always accumulate on it...

Her hands suddenly paused, and she gazed at her own hands in a daze—clutching her sleeve, performing the same movement of wiping the treasure sword.

Xuanji couldn’t help but feel a sense of daze.

Chen Minjue continued to laugh and speak, "At this Flower Pinning Conference, junior sister isn’t old enough yet. In five years, you and junior sister Linglong, with your Broken Gold, will probably dominate the conference."

At the mention of Linglong, not just he, but everyone sighed internally. Zhong Minyan and the others had not yet arrived at Fuyu Island, and Xuanji was well aware that the later they arrived, the greater the likelihood that they had encountered danger. However, she could do nothing; the feeling of waiting helplessly was indeed miserable.

F​​inally, Chen Minjue could not stand the oppressive atmosphere and suggested they all go out to see the scenery of Fuyu Island. Only then were they able to slightly relax their anxious hearts. Xuanji and Yu Sifeng led the way—they had been messing around on the island for a few days and had already seen all the scenic places, knowing where the best views were.

"I’ll take you to the mountain, it’s absolutely beautiful there; an endless sea as far as the eye can see. Eldest brother, Second Senior Brother, you certainly haven’t seen such a beautiful place before."

Xuanji waved at them with a smile, the jade orchid behind her ear was still as vivid as if dripping with color, showing no signs of withering.

Immediately, the crowd followed Xuanji and another northward up the mountain. Along the way, they saw cranes flying and butterflies dancing, vast green meadows on the mountain interspersed with colorful wildflowers, intoxicating fragrances, and from time to time, groups of deer or ponies, some eating leaves and some grazing. Unafraid of the approaching humans, they even cozied up to lick and nuzzle hands and waists, showing great affection.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, just as Xuanji had said, the view was incredibly vast—endless blue skies and shimmering blue seas made one feel utterly insignificant and suddenly broadened one’s horizons, as if there was nothing in the world too difficult to handle. What could possibly weigh on one’s mind in such a magnificent expanse of earth and sky?

Du Minxing exclaimed, "I’ve been to Fuyu Island before, but I never knew there was such a place here. You two really have discovered a treasure spot."

Chen Minjue leapt onto the highest rock and waved vigorously at the vast sea, his voice instantly scattered by the fierce sea wind. He turned around with a grin and beckoned, "Come here! If you have any troubles, just shout them out. It’s incredibly satisfying!"

Xuanji followed his example and jumped up, cupping her hands around her mouth to amplify her voice, and yelled with all her might, "Ah—Linglong! Sixth Brother! Ruo Yu! Hurry up and come—!"

She yelled until her back was drenched in sweat, truly liberating and exhilarating; any troubles seemed to vanish instantly from her chest.

Yu Sifeng, seeing their enjoyable antics, also jumped up, his hand poised at his mouth as if about to shout something, but no words came out. He dejectedly lowered his hand, letting the sea breeze sweep his long black hair about, feeling as if he might dissolve into the wind.

Xuanji turned and waved at Du Minxing, "Big Senior Brother, come join us."

He smiled and shook his head: "No... I don’t have any troubles..."

Really, he didn’t? He lowered his lashes, perhaps only he knew for sure.

Chen Minjue and Xuanji shouted into the sea for a long time, both tiring themselves out, dripping with sweat and feeling hungry, discussing going back to eat something when they suddenly saw several people slowly ascending the hillside, all dressed in green robes and wearing Shura masks. The man in the lead was even holding a feather fan, occasionally fanning himself, giving off a pretentious air.

The moment Yu Sifeng saw them, his expression drastically changed. Silently, he leapt down from the rock and went forward to kneel, saying, "Disciple greets the Vice Palace Master."

The Vice Palace Master chuckled, saying, "You are Si Feng? Your mask is missing again, don’t tell me you encountered demons and it got damaged again."

After finishing, he looked around at everyone at the mountaintop, finally setting his gaze on Xuanji’s face. After pondering for a while, he finally recognized the young girl, the same one who had argued publicly with the Palace Master four years ago.

Understanding dawned on him, and he burst out laughing, waving his fan, "I see, you’re really lucky. Was it taken off by her?"

Yu Sifeng hesitated for a moment before answering yes.

Seeing those masked oddities bothering Yu Sifeng again, Xuanji quickly ran over and said loudly, "You’re blaming Si Feng for not adhering to regulations again, aren’t you? His mask was taken off by me, it has nothing to do with him, punish me instead!"

The Vice Palace Master covered his mouth with his fan, chuckled quietly for a moment, and said softly, "You’re not from Lize Palace, young lady, I wouldn’t dare to punish you. Hmm, it really was you who took it off... you took it off..." Suddenly he clapped his hands hard, laughing loudly, "Well done! Well done! Si Feng, I must congratulate you! Being able to have your mask successfully removed, you truly are the first in Lize Palace."

Yu Sifeng said nothing.

Listening to his tone, which unlike last time wasn’t fierce or threatening, Xuanji let out a sigh of relief and laughed, "What’s there to be successful about? I took it off effortlessly. So removing the mask isn’t a fault? If I had known, I would have taken it off the moment I saw him! Why wait so long."

The Vice Palace Master kept tapping his fan on his mask while laughing, not clear whether he was laughing at Xuanji’s unrestrained talk, or at Si Feng finally being able to remove his mask. Despite being a man, his every gesture was no different from a woman’s, making him seem quite eerie. This time, with a coquettish gesture, he said grinning, "To wait so long... Without lengthening the time, how would you appreciate relief after hardship? Those who abandon their old home must suffer difficulties."

What did he mean by that? Xuanji was somewhat puzzled. Lize Palace was complicated, with many rules and strictures, and even their speech was not straightforward, leaving her clueless about what he really was saying.

The Vice Palace Master fanned himself a couple more times, finally patting his sleeve, and said, "Now you are truly fulfilled, and such formal kneeling in the future is no longer necessary. Stand up. Life on the outside is not easy, you must be careful. If you encounter difficulties in the future, although you can’t return to your homeland, don’t forget that Lize Palace still has your back."

Yu Sifeng respectfully responded with a yes and slowly stood up. He appeared deeply moved, his hands trembling slightly, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Xuanji ran to his side, supporting his arm, and laughed, "Si Feng, it’s all good n

He clutched Xuanji’s sleeve and turned to descend Gao Mountain, as if escaping from something terrifying, when suddenly, he heard the Vice Palace Master laugh and say, "Oh, wait a minute—look at my memory, always forgetting things. Since your mask has been taken off and is useless, you should return it to Lize Palace!"

Yu Sifeng’s body shook violently, and he abruptly released Xuanji’s hand, staring blankly ahead for a long time before he managed a bitter smile and said, "Please forgive me, Vice Palace Master. During my fight with Zi Hu on Gao Mountain, she snatched my mask and it fell into the abyss."

He lied again! Xuanji gazed at him bewildered, suddenly feeling an ominous premonition in her heart.

"Lost it?" The Vice Palace Master’s voice rose, and his eyes suddenly rolled twice before he chuckled moments later, "That’s alright, if it’s lost then so be it. Si Feng, at the end of the day you’re still one of Lize Palace’s own, not related to the girl, and shouldn’t always be by her side. You should come with us back to Lize Palace in a couple of days, explain the situation to the Palace Master, then you can leave again."

Yu Sifeng’s face turned ashen as he bit his lip, his eyes deep as the darkest night, unfathomably deep. After a long while, he finally said, "Disciple... obeys your command."

Xuanji saw him reveal such an expression for the first time, as if despair and hope, agony and helplessness were intensely intertwined, eventually turning into an indescribable hue that permeated his eyes, deeply, as if to suck one’s soul into them.

Her heart startled, she murmured, "Si Feng...?"

He turned back, quietly looking at her. It was still that look, beginning from a sunny afternoon, he looked at her in that way. Not looking at the lush green grass, the clear blue sky, nor the bustling mundane world around him—only at her, and her alone.

Her face suddenly heated up—it was his hand brushing against her, his fingers tracing her brows, eyes, and lips delicately as if painting fine porcelain, as though he wanted to feel her face with his hands and imprint her appearance into his mind.

"Xuanji," his voice was very low, very soft, like the gentle breeze of March, "I will leave for a few days. Take care of yourself, you understand? Be careful."

She still didn’t understand, why, if he was only leaving for a few days, his gaze seemed as profound as if he were saying farewell.

Suddenly, he leaned closer to her, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered, "I’ll tell you a secret. You should know, being human is very difficult. But you... are the person I willingly give my heart to."

He lightly kissed her face, like a salty sea breeze brushing past. Xuanji took a deep breath, and when she looked up, he was already descending the mountain with the Vice Palace Master.

She couldn’t let him leave.

Suddenly, like a flood bursting forth, she was struck by this intense thought.

If he left, she might never see him again.

That youth who smiled while twirling flowers, always patient when speaking with her, the youth who would sometimes blush and be at a loss for words, who knew so many things she didn’t know.

She really didn’t want him to leave, truly didn’t want that.

Du Minxing came over to support her, softly sighing, "Xuanji, let’s go too. You should stop meddling in the affairs of Lize Palace."

She didn’t hear him, but gently pushed his hand away and hurried after them, shouting, "Wait a second!"

The several masked figures in front stopped, the Vice Palace Master shaking his fan creakily and smilingly said, "Lady, do you wish to argue like last time?"

Xuanji shook her head and slowly said, "No. I came to tell you that I will come to Lize Palace in a few days to fetch Si Feng."

Yu Sifeng trembled but did not speak.

The Vice Palace Master rolled his eyes but still smiled, "My dear, you should know the rules of Lize Palace, it’s not easy for women to just visit."

"Then I’ll wait outside!" she interrupted loudly, "I won’t leave until he comes out, however long it takes."

The fan in the Vice Palace Master’s hand finally stopped shaking, and through the mask, his gaze turned cold as lightning, chilling to the bone. The men in green robes behind him were about to step forward but were stopped by his raising hand as he whispered, "Lady, I don’t have the Palace Master’s patience. Don’t push it any further."

Xuanji calmly replied, "I don’t have Si Feng’s patience either, don’t force me."

"How bold!" a few men in green robes shouted harshly, immediately preparing to rush forward. Xuanji clenched the broken gold tightly, feeling her spirit agitated, and within her, the True Qi seemed to resonate with the broken gold, creating waves in her chest that seemed endless.

"Eh?!" the Vice Palace Master exclaimed in surprise, hastily raising his hand to stop those behind him. He stared blankly at Xuanji, from head to toe, from her hair tips to her fingertips, as if she had suddenly become a different person.

After a while, his fan creaked and swayed again, and the heavy air that was about to burst seemed to dissipate in an instant. He tapped Yu Sifeng with his fan and chuckled, "Enough, the young girl is prepared to fight to the death for you. You might as well go with her for now."

Eh? How did he agree to let them go so easily? Xuanji was still a bit slow to react, scratching her head. Could it be that the Vice Palace Master was actually a tremendously good person?

Only when Yu Sifeng reached her side and firmly took her hand did she realize it was true, her eyebrows raised in joy: "So you are a great person after all, Vice Palace Master! Thank you!"

The Vice Palace Master gave a mysterious smile, tapped his fan against his mask twice, and then said, "A good person, well, not necessarily. You are Sect Leader Chu’s daughter, how could I dare to be rough with you? Little junior brother Si Feng is blessed by your favor. However, you two are still unrelated... Well, there are a few months until the Flower Pinning Conference, when the Palace Master arrives, Si Feng, you can speak to him yourself. Then we will decide."

After saying this, he left without looking back, humming a strange tune to himself.

Xuanji, holding Yu Sifeng’s hand, beamed like a flower, "Si Feng, Si Feng~~~ it’s really best that you stayed!"

He bowed his head slightly and smiled, lifting his hand to tousle her hair gently, "You’re still so reckless. Let’s drop it, I’m hungry, let’s go eat."

HAND in hand with him, Xuanji cheerfully descended the mountain. Behind them, Du Minxing and Chen Minjue were somewhat stunned. Although they’d always known their little junior sister was stubborn, it was indeed rare for the Vice Palace Master of Lize Palace to give in at such a crucial moment. It had been truly dangerous; if a real fight had broken out, the three of them combined would have been no match.

"Hehe, our little junior sister and Si Feng really make a pair. I reckon our master and mistress will discuss their matter soon. Maybe junior sister Linglong and Min Yan will have their wedding together too!"

Chen Minjue stroked his beard, very pleased with this double happiness.

Du Minxing swallowed hard, saying nothing.

Halfway down the mountain, Xuanji suddenly remembered something, looked up smiling as if gold ingots were falling from the sky, and said, "Si Feng, you just kissed me..."

"No," he interrupted her before she could finish.

"But you did..." she began, confused again.

"No," he blushed.

"Then... what secret were you talking about?"

"It’s nothing."

His ears also turned red, and suddenly he turned back to smile gently at her, grabbed her hand, and began to run, causing the small deer and horses by the roadside to join in their footsteps.

Their shadows, stretched long by the setting sun, merged into one on the ground.

(The End of Joyous Peach Blossoms)

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Although there’s only one Chapter today, it’s the length of two previous Chapters, so don’t call me lazy.

I’m taking my mom to the hospital tomorrow, so I’ll pause updates for a day; come back the day after tomorrow.

As long as you enjoy reading. (To be continued, for further details, please visit www.qidian.com, more Chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)