The Reticent Blade
Chapter 313 - Graceful Hands Plucking Jade Plum Blossoms (Part 1)

Chapter 313 - Graceful Hands Plucking Jade Plum Blossoms (Part 1)

The second time Ye Beizhi saw Zuo Nianchou was in Wuchang Prefecture.

After Ye Beizhi realized he had been tricked by Zuo Nianchou, he immediately went out to chase her. As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw two members of the Green Bamboo Gang incapacitated in the front hall. It was undoubtedly Zuo Nianchou’s doing, but the woman had already disappeared without a trace.

Ye Beizhi thought for a moment, then turned and left.

He then returned to Wuchang Prefecture.

Ye Beizhi believed that since Zuo Nianchou had acquired the token ring, she was bound to turn in the mission eventually. The branch closest to Xiangzhou was none other than the one in Wuchang Prefecture.

Ye Beizhi had spent nearly half a month preparing for this task, so how could he let someone else claim his reward? Three hundred taels of silver was no small sum to him. Even if it were divided among everyone in the Flying Mallard Battalion, each person would still get a small sum.

And so, he waited outside the Wuchang branch of the Ghostbane Association for nearly a month.

That particular branch was disguised as an escort agency within the city. Ye Beizhi would sit across the street from it during the day. By the time he had gotten acquainted with the fourteenth beggar, he finally saw the person he had been waiting for.

A graceful figure approached from one end of the street wearing a red dress like a blazing fire. Her face was partially covered by a light veil, and a long case holding her instrument was strapped to her back.

Ye Beizhi stood up, staring at Zuo Nianchou.

Zuo Nianchou saw Ye Beizhi as well. The corners of her eyes, not hidden by the veil, curved into two crescent moons as she smiled. Then, she turned and walked into the escort agency.

Ye Beizhi quickened his pace and caught up, following behind her.

Zuo Nianchou neither fled nor spoke, allowing Ye Beizhi to follow her as if she were unaware of his presence.

Ye Beizhi watched as Zuo Nianchou handed over the token, collected her reward, and unapologetically tucked the three hundred tael silver note into her chest.

After claiming the reward, Zuo Nianchou didn’t stay behind. She left the branch directly and returned to the street with Ye Beizhi still trailing behind.

Zuo Nianchou turned her head to glance at Ye Beizhi and winked at him. Her expression seemed to say, "Let’s see if you can keep up."

Ye Beizhi followed Zuo Nianchou through the city. Gradually, the streets grew deserted, and the air became heavier with moisture, carrying a damp sensation.

After walking a bit further, a vast, shimmering lake came into view.

Zuo Nianchou's voice came from ahead.

"A shroud of misty waves spans the distance,

"Countless crows frolic through the cold.

"Wild trees stretch far, obscuring beating wings,

"Fishing boats dot the water where black birds soar

"That, over there, is my home."

She pointed into the distance as she finished.

Ye Beizhi followed her gaze and saw a stilted bamboo house standing there alone by the lake’s edge not far away.

When they arrived at the bamboo house, Zuo Nianchou pushed open the door and stepped inside. She then stood at the entrance, smiling at Ye Beizhi, and said, "Come in."

Ye Beizhi hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped inside.

The interior of the bamboo house was simply furnished, filled with a faint, subtle fragrance identical to the scent that Zuo Nianchou carried. One side of the house extended outward into a balcony. Beneath the balcony was the lake, and the sound of water lapping against the shore drifted up from time to time.

Zuo Nianchou took out her guqin and placed it on its stand in the balcony. She gestured to the bamboo chair on the balcony and said, "Since you’re already here, take a seat."

Ye Beizhi sat down while Zuo Nianchou turned and walked back into the house.

Not long after, Zuo Nianchou returned, carrying a wine jar in her arms and two cups of wine in her hand. She placed the jar down, broke the clay seal, and poured wine for both of them.

She raised her cup, smiling, and asked Ye Beizhi, "Shall we drink again?"

Ye Beizhi looked deeply at Zuo Nianchou, then cautiously glanced at the wine cup in her hand and said, "The reward is mine."

"If you drink with me, it's yours," Zuo Nianchou said with a chuckle, covering her mouth. "What’s the matter? Afraid?"

Ye Beizhi said nothing. Zuo Nianchou placed the cup into his hand and said, "Drink. This time, you don’t have anything worth taking from you."

Ye Beizhi remained silent and drained the cup in one go.

"Now that’s more like it," Zuo Nianchou said, her eyes gleaming alluringly. She poured more wine for Ye Beizhi, tapped the jar, and said, "Drink with me until it's empty, and the three hundred taels are yours."

Ye Beizhi nodded firmly and drank without hesitation.

The wine drained cup by cup.

No one knew what kind of wine this was, but it was incredibly strong. After finishing the entire jar, Ye Beizhi was already feeling dizzy. In contrast, Zuo Nianchou’s cheeks were flushed, and her crimson lips moved subtly, carrying a smile with an inscrutable meaning.

Seeing Ye Beizhi looking at her, and before he could bring up the matter of the three hundred taels, Zuo Nianchou quickly said, "You have quite the tolerance for alcohol... Let me play a tune for you, to improve the atmosphere." Without waiting for Ye Beizhi's agreement, she turned and sat down by the qin.

Zheng—

"When twilight crows lament, someone lingers by the small pavilion.

"The fragrant grass grows only with spring's sorrows, the northern wild geese return in vain, skimming alongside the azure clouds.

"The lingering sunset gradually fades to darkness, and a new moon... shines elegantly once more."

After finishing the song, Zuo Nianchou turned her face to look at Ye Beizhi, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Young Master, do you know the name of this song?"

Ye Beizhi shook his head vigorously, feeling the alcohol in his body stirring like a wave. He started to appreciate that the woman before him was as beautiful as an immortal from the Heavens.

"Don’t know?" Zuo Nianchou’s voice came from beside him. When Ye Beizhi opened his eyes, he saw that at some point, she was leaning against him, a wine cup in hand. She had brought another jar of wine.

"No, I don’t know..." Ye Beizhi swallowed and answered honestly.

"Since you don’t know..." Zuo Nianchou chuckled softly. "Then you need to take another drink." With that, she brought the wine cup to Ye Beizhi’s lips.

Another cup went down.

"Did I sing well?" Zuo Nianchou asked again.

Ye Beizhi nodded.

Zuo Nianchou laughed joyfully. "This song has two names... one is Yearning Rhapsody, and the other is Stormqueller."

"Stormqueller?" These three words briefly cleared Ye Beizhi’s mind before he muttered in a daze, "How coincidental... You’re Yearning Rhapsody, and I’m Stormqueller..."

"Who’s to say otherwise?" Zuo Nianchou sat up and gave Ye Beizhi a meaningful glance. "Tell me... Were we destined to be here together by fate?"

Ye Beizhi couldn’t help but hiccup drunkenly and murmured, "Fated, this fate is worth three hundred taels."

"Are you drunk?" Zuo Nianchou teased.

Ye Beizhi shook his head slowly. "Not yet...."

Zuo Nianchou sighed and began drinking on her own.

"A fortune teller told me I’d face a great calamity this year but also meet someone destined for me. Only by being together could we avert disaster. Do you think that person is you?"

Ye Beizhi was still shaking his head. "... I don’t know."

Zuo Nianchou looked at the already heavily intoxicated Ye Beizhi and said softly, "Who else could it be but you? Though I may be a few years older than you, I was infatuated the moment I saw you. Stormqueller and Yearning Rhapsody are two names for the same song... How could such a coincidence exist? It feels as though we were destined to be connected by fate..."

"Stormqueller and Yearning Rhapsody are two sides of the same coin," Zuo Nianchou said, her graceful hand gently caressing Ye Beizhi’s cheek. "You are Stormqueller, and you are also Yearning Rhapsody; I am Yearning Rhapsody, and I am also Stormqueller..."

Ye Beizhi turned and met Yearning Rhapsody's emotional gaze. He murmured, "I am... Yearning Rhapsody."